Thomas Edward Burleson, Jr. of Burleson’s Honey in Waxahachie, Tex., died Sept. 19, 2011, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Tex.

He was born Nov. 20, 1935 to Thomas Edward Burleson, Sr. and Annie Laura Whipple Burleson in Waxahachie. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Lori Burleson Johnson.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nan Epton Burleson, and children: Gregory Burleson and wife, Carol, Timothy Burleson and wife Tami of Waxahachie, Ame Burleson Solomon and husband John of Los Angeles, Calif., and son-in-law Lee Johnson of Ennis; also seven grandchildren and other relatives.

Mr. Burleson received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from North Texas University. Upon graduation he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He was stationed first in Amarillo and then near Washington, D.C. at Andrews Air Force Base, where he was promoted to Captain and became the chief refueling officer for the base. Among his duties there was refueling the Presidential aircrafts.

In 1962, he was honorably discharged from military service and returned to Waxahachie to join the family firm of T.W. Burleson & Son, Inc. where he worked 49 years as the third generation in his family to produce and pack honey. During that time, he served as president of the National Honey Packers & Dealers and president of the American Honey Institute. As CEO of Burleson’s Honey, Mr. Burleson led the industry by pioneering plastic, non-drip containers for honey.

Mr. Burleson’s civic activities covered a wide range of endeavors. He served as president and secretary of the Waxahachie Independent School District Board and president and secretary of the Waxahachie Lions Club. A faithful member of the First Baptist Church, among his many duties through the years he served as chairman of the deacons, chairman of the properties committee, and supervisor of the construction of the Children’s Building. A landmark event in his life occurred in 1980 when he was awarded the Citizens for Progress Outstanding Citizens Award by the African-American community in Waxahachie. He was the first Caucasian to receive such an honor.

Other involvements include participation in Historic Waxahachie, Inc. and the Classic Car Club. Mr. Burleson was active in Boy Scouts and received the Order of the Arrow Award. Noted for his high energy and indomitable spirit, he thoroughly loved life, enjoying hunting, fishing, camping, cooking, the mountains of New Mexico, and collecting antiques, including vintage cars. He was a generous person in both spirit and means, with a great sense of humor, which served him well as an excellent storyteller, host, and friend. In later years, his greatest pleasure was his grandchildren. He truly loved his entire family.

Services to celebrate his life were scheduled for Sept. 23, 2011, at the First Baptist Church in Waxahachie with interment at the Waxahachie City Cemetery.
The family request that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church in Waxahachie or the American Heart Association.

A guestbook is available at www.waynebozefuneralhome.com.