Larry Burns

Larry Burns passed away in his home of a terminal illness on December 5, 2007. Born Joseph Lowry Burns III, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on June 27, 1924, to Eva Sue Sutherland Burns and Joseph Lowry Burns, Jr., Mr. Burns leaves a large and loving family and a legacy of farming innovation and leadership in cooperative institutions critical for the region’s economic development.

In his youth he was known for his debating skills and inquisitive mind. Originally drawn toward engineering, he studied at the Universities of Arkansas and of Texas, and then worked in radar technology for the U.S. Navy in 1944, following which he returned to Jonesboro to apply himself to the challenges of farming.

Over the next 63 years, Mr. Burns developed a farming operation that became known for its technological innovations. He and his farm manager, John Greer, assisted by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, ventured into catfish farming, experimental “triticalli” production and mycorrhiza biological soil fertilization. He pioneered satellite-provided weather information, internet based crop research, and precision leveling and fertilizer applications through tractor-installed Global Positioning System devices. In recent years he partnered with Cache River Valley Seed for the reproduction of new strains of high quality seed rice.

By the 1970s his contributions began to expand beyond his own farming operations. In 1970 he was elected to the City Water and Light Board, and in 1985 became its Chairman until his retirement from CW&L in 1999. During those 29 years, under the capable management of Marion Ulmer, Jim Reed and Ronald Bowen, the user-owned utility secured its energy future through the acquisition of shares in coal-fired plants and the installation of gas-fired generators. Its Medallion wastewater plant, built in 1987, has been key to attracting food processing plants to the area. CW&L continues to offer some of the lowest utility rates in the nation.

As a board member of the Jonesboro Production Credit Association from the late 1960s through the 1970s, Larry Burns helped orient local farm credit decisions during a time of expanded production and increasingly high interest rates. He was elected to serve on its regional board in the 1980s, during which time he assumed responsibility for the difficult decisions which kept the Farm Credit system afloat in the midst of a severe farm debt crisis.

Mr. Burns served on the Board of Directors of Riceland Foods, Inc., the world’s largest miller and marketer of rice, from 1974 to 1997, serving as Chair of its Budget & Finance Committee for 18 years. During that time, Riceland installed parboiling facilities, successfully diversified into the production of soybean and rice oils, and developed creative strategies for increasing rice’s internal and external markets.

He also served as president of the Rotary Club 1968-69, as a member of the Council on Human Relations during the desegregation of Jonesboro’s public schools and of the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce in 2003.

In his later years he had the opportunity to travel widely, and could be counted upon for providing strongly held non-conventional opinions, deliciously cooked steaks for lakeside sunsets, advice on nutritional supplements, friendship and jolly good times.

A dedicated family man, Larry Burns leaves behind his community-minded and beloved wife, Sandra Brown Burns, of Seminole, Oklahoma, as well as three children (of former wife Jean Stuck Burns) Sara Lee Burns (London, England), Joseph S. Burns (Davis CA) and Elaine and spouse Pedro Moctezuma (Amecameca, Mexico), three stepchildren and spouses: Ron Brown (Casper WY), Lisa and spouse Neil Montgomery (Plano TX), and Steve and spouse Jane Brown (Casper, Wyoming); eleven grandchildren, Erin Montgomery (Boston MA), Kristen Montgomery (College Station TX), Lorena and Aurora Moctezuma (Mexico City), Melani, Aleyta, Ashley and Stephanie Brown (Casper WY), Reuben and Lili Hamlyn Olín (London, England) and Tlaloc Moctezuma-Burns (Amecameca, Mexico), as well as two great-grandchildren, Kylie Brown and Kellan Coffee.

His memorial service will be held by Rev. Emil Williams at Emerson Memorial Chapel on Saturday, December 8, at 11:00 am.

Donations to Craighead County Community Foundation, Box 4033, Jonesboro 72403, are preferred in lieu of flowers.

Visitation will be held on Friday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.