William Leo Burns
Obituary Notice
William Leo "Bill" Burns, 61, passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas on Monday, October 11, 2004 of pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed in March 2002. He was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, on February 6, 1943. Bill graduated from El Dorado High School and attended the University of Arkansas for several years. He graduated with distinction from the University of New Mexico in 1972. The UNM School of Architecture honored him with its Distinguished Alumni award in 1994. Bill was a licensed architect in multiple states, served in the USAF, and is a Vietnam veteran.
In 1974, Bill was one of the founding partners of the Burns/Peters Group of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1985 he formed BPLW Architects & Engineers, with offices in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. He served as the President and CEO and later as chairman of the board until his recent retirement. His firm of more than 100 employees has practiced architecture throughout the country for nearly 40 years. He is the architect for many significant structures, including the Albuquerque International Airport and most recently two new federal courthouses to be built in El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Early in his career he received accolades from both Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona and Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico for his pioneering work in solar design.
He and his wife of 25 years, Carman Lavender, recently relocated to Little Rock. A true Arkansas native, his love for his home state transcended the miles. A Red Hog always on his desk and in his heart.
He was preceded in death by his father Leo Alfred Burns and brother James Winston Burns. He is survived by his wife, Carman Lavender, nee Carman Holder; daughters Whitney Leigh Burns of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Ann-Marie Burns of New York; son Marc Lavender and wife Minerva and their children, Jamie Marie Lavender and Jared Mitchell Lavender, of Mesa Arizona; mother Evalena Burns of Little Rock; sister Mary Kathryn Boyett and husband Bruce and their sons, Matthew and Christopher, of Little Rock; brother Thomas Eugene Burns and his wife Robin and their sons, Mark and Scott, of Longview, Texas; and brother Robert Earl Burns and his son Michael and daughter-in-law Blake of Little Rock. He will be missed by his wife and family and by hundreds of employees, clients, and friends to whom Bill gave so much.
Funeral services will be held Friday, October 15, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. Burial immediately following at Pinecrest Memorial Park - Alexander, Arkansas.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 18, 2004, at the Chelwood Christian Reformed Church at 2200 Chelwood Blvd. NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87112.
The Reverend Ronald Cok of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will lead both services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in remembrance of Bill Burns to your local American Cancer Society.
Register Book
-
Sorry to read the news...from Joe Della Longa, Albuquerque. Bill was great
human being...I am privileged to have known him.
Bob Lauer
Bernalillo County Detention Center, Operations Manager, 1977-1994
Cherokee Village, Arkansas
Email: cva01@centurytel.net
- Bill, was an inspiration and a great influence in my life. I enjoyed
working with him and talking with him. He was a wonderful person and will be
dearly missed.
Fontaine Sanchez
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Email: fsanchez@bplw.com
- Bill became one of my first clients when I decided to expand my business
and specialize in architects and engineers professional liability insurance
back in 1982. I always considered him to be one of the most astute members
of his profession.
Bob Dean
President, R. J. Dean & Associates
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Email: rjdean@cressinsurance.com
- Chuck Cala
Vice President, Jeff Mortensen & Associates, Inc.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Email: ccala@jmainc.org
- I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Burns only a short time but his enduring
dignity and strong character remained clear and constant. My deepest
sympathy and prayers to Mr. Burns family, friends, and colleagues.
Gracen Johnsen
President, Johnsen Coporate Services Inc.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Email: gjohnsen@jcsnetwork.com
- I am an ex employee of BPLW Architects in Arizona. I worked with Mr. Burns
on several projects in Arizona and New Mexico. I much respected his
professionalism and fairness. My best wishes goes out to his close friends
and family.
Patrick Sean McGee
Architect
Scottsdale, Arizona
Email: pmcgee@sspw.org
- Salena Lucero
Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Sorry to hear about Bill's passing. He was a respected architect and made
many contributions to our state.
Karen Rademacher
Wind2 Business Solution Provider
Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Bill was a great mentor and leader. Bill took the time to guide me in my
early years as an architect and I will always be grateful for his honesty
and generosity. My family and I thank Bill for being a part of our lives.
Daniel Partida, AIA
Architect - BPLW Architects & Engineers, Inc
El Paso, Texas
Email: dpartida@bplw.com
- Bill was a true inspiration to those of us who always had a dream to own
and run a business someday. He was the one who taught me to always go the
extra mile in order to make it in the business world and in life! He will be
missed!
Rosanna Aragon
Accountant
Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Bill was my mentor, boss and friend. He hired me at a UNM bus stop and I
spent 14 years with him and Ron at Burns/Peters Group and BPLW. He was one
man that I will never forget. May the Lord bless Carmen and the whole
family.
Birdie DeNero
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Email: PMDFamily@earthlink.net
- Our two firms worked together, in the best sense of the word, on the
Albuquerque International Airport major expansion. Bill was a leader and
friend throughout our association. We will miss him.
Ted McCagg and the TRA Team
Kirkland, Washington
Email: tedmccagg@earthlink.net
- Rachael O'Rourke
Advertising, Gold Coast Bulletin
Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
purplechipmunk@animail.net