Bill Burlison

WARDELL, Mo. -- Bill D. Burlison of Wardell died at his home Sunday, March 17, 2019.

He was born March 15, 1931, in Wardell to the late J.I. and Lillie Marler Burlison. He and Barbara Humphreys were married Aug. 14, 1955, in Columbia, Missouri, and divorced in 1983. From that union were born three children, James David, Laura Ann and Andrew Jefferson. On June 11, 1995, in the U.S. Capitol Chapel, he was united in marriage to Michal Sue "Mickey" Prosser, and she survives of the home.

Bill graduated from Wardell High School in 1949, where he excelled in sports activities. He had seven academic degrees: Southeast Missouri State University, Bachelor of Arts, 1953; University of Missouri-Columbia, Master of Education, 1956; Southeast Missouri State University, Bachelor of Science in Education, 1959; University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor, 1956; the Catholic University of America, Master of Arts, 1993; and Washington College of Law, The American University, Master of Laws, 2005.

He served as student government president at Southeast Missouri State University. He joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity and continued his affiliation throughout his life. He also was an adjunct professor in business law and American government at four colleges and universities: Southeast Missouri State University (1963 to 65), George Mason University (1984), Strayer College (1984) and Anne Arundel Community College (1998). He was admitted to practice law in Missouri, Maryland and the District of Columbia. He also had been admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Military Appeals, U.S. District Court and all Missouri and Maryland state courts.

From 1960 to 1962, he was an assistant attorney general of Missouri. Bill also served as the prosecuting attorney of Cape Girardeau County for three terms (1963 to 1968) and during his three terms, he spent one year as the president of the Missouri Prosecuting Attorney's Association. He also served as president of the Cape Girardeau County Board of Education in 1961.

Bill served in the U.S. Marine Corps for three and a half years after his graduation from law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. During his service, he was head general courts-martial trial counsel for the Second Marine Division of the Marine Corps.

Bill was a Democrat and a dedicated public servant and, following his service as prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau County, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in what was then the 10th congressional District and served six terms (1969 to 1981) as the congressman. He was known for his door-to-door campaign technique in which he knocked on the door of every registered voter and followed up with letters and postcards as reminders of his visits.

During his service on Capitol Hill, he was on Committee on Agriculture, Committee on the Interior, Committee for the District of Columbia, Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Intelligence. Bill chaired the Intelligence Subcommittee on Program and Budget and was also the majority regional whip for Missouri and Iowa during his tenure in Congress. While in Congress, he was especially concerned about issues related to agriculture, intelligence and a U.S. Constitutional Amendment for the popular election of the president.

After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law in Maryland and the District of Columbia and was elected to Anne Arundel County Council, Maryland, District 4, from December 1998 to December 2006 (chairman of the council in 2001 and 2002). He also served as a member of the Anne Arundel Democratic Central Committee, 1990 to 2006, serving as chairman in 2003 and 2004.

Bill was active in community affairs and was a past member of the Crofton, Maryland, Kiwanis Club (past president); Division 14, Capital District Kiwanis International (past lieutenant governor); and he was founder of the Crofton Kiwanis 10K and the Odenton Kiwanis 5-Miler. He was also founder of the Crofton Runners Club.

Even beyond high school, Bill continued to be very active in sports and ran eight Marine Corps Marathons. He was active in the Maryland Senior Olympics. Bill was founder and charter president of two Toastmasters clubs -- the High Noon Toastmasters in Cape Girardeau in 1960 and the Chesapeake Toastmasters Club in Crofton in 1984 -- and was very proud both clubs are still active today. Bill had been a member of the Marine Corps League, Cpl. Mason O. Yarbrough Detachment, No. 1081, in Cape Girardeau. Bill was also a member of the Hayti Rotary Club in Hayti, Missouri, and the Wardell Lions Club in Wardell. Bill was past worshipful master (1966) and member of St. Mark's No. 93 AF & AM Masonic Lodge for 64 years in Cape Girardeau. He was also affiliated as a multiple member with numerous lodges in Southeast Missouri. He was a member of American Legion Post 88 in Caruthersville, Missouri.

Bill was a member of First Baptist Church of Crofton, where he served on the board of deacons. He attended First Baptist Church of Wardell and First Baptist Church of Delta.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ruth Meadows; brother, Woodrow Burlison; and son-in-law, Mark Mandela.

Survivors include his wife, Michal Sue "Mickey" Prosser; son, James David (Jan) Burlison of Troy, Missouri; daughter, Laura Ann Mandela of Reston, Virginia; son, Andrew Jefferson (Cindy) Burlison of Columbia; six grandchildren, Anthony (Lynsey) Mandela of Geneva, New York, Danielle (Ted) Tzirimis of Reston, Heather (Jacob) Gomez of Burke, Virginia, Caitlyn Mandela of Reston, Jamie (Caitlin) Burlison of Lakewood, Colorado, and Jessica Burlison of Columbia; four great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Lucas Tzirimis, Kayleigh Mandela and Harper Grace Gomez; stepgrandchildren, Catherine Pepmiller of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Carla (Steven) Bermudez of Columbia; great-stepgrandchildren, Maia and Lex Bermudez; and nephews, nieces and other relatives, as well as many friends and supporters from over the years.

The family wishes to thank Southeast Hospice for the excellent care given.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Masonic service at 7 p.m., Wednesday at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance, Missouri.

Funeral will be at noon Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Randy Conn officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Bell City, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Wardell, P.O. Box 296, Wardell, MO 63879 or First Baptist Church of Delta, P.O. Box 818, Delta, MO 63744.