BURGESS & HIGHTOWER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Vortex
- Lawyer
Bill W. Burgess, Jr. is Chairman of the Board of Vortex. Mr. Burgess was the owner/publisher of the Lawton Constitution, which is the third largest newspaper published in the State of Oklahoma. The Lawton Constitution was established in 1901. Mr. Burgess was also the Senior Partner of Burgess & Hightower Law Firm.
Mr. Burgess is the son of Sgt. Bill W. Burgess, Sr. and Betty Burgess. He graduated from Cameron University with a B.A. degree. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
As Chairman and principal owner of Techrizon, Mr. Burgess developed Techrizon into the largest Oklahoma software engineering company. Techrizon developed software for today's technologically advanced warfare specializing in smart weapon systems for the U.S. Department of Defense. In its history, Techrizon software engineers have developed smart weapons systems which provide commanders with command and control, fire direction, target acquisition, forward observation, meteorological and communications software needed to succeed in modern battlefield situations. Techrizon designed and built software to control the Army's premier land attack guided missiles. Enemy prisoners of war cited the now famous "steel rain" as the most feared weapon in the coalition's arsenal. Techrizon also developed counter fire radar software ("fire finder system") which senses the trajectory of enemy artillery, rapidly computing the location and digitally calculating a firing solution.
Mr. Burgess was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor an Oklahoman can receive. He served as a Regent for the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Burgess was the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. He served as Chairman of the Oklahoma State Chamber. He has served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, Inc. Mr. Burgess served as a Regent with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for 18 years. The State Regents are the coordinating board for Oklahoma universities and are responsible for allocating university funding. Mr. Burgess was the youngest State Regent to be appointed in the State's history. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Mr. Burgess was inducted into the University of Oklahoma College of Law Hall of Fame. He served as Chairman of Leadership Oklahoma. He was named Leadership Oklahoma's 25th Anniversary Distinguished Graduate. He was the Vice-Chairman of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Mr. Burgess served as Chairman of the Citizens' Commission on the Future of Oklahoma Higher Education. Mr. Burgess was chosen as one of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce's Oklahoma Stars for the "I Believe in Oklahoma" campaign. He was awarded the Corporate Entrepreneur of the Year by the United States Association for Business and Entrepreneurship. He also served as Chairman of the campaign for passage of State Questions 680 and 681, the "Two for Technology" campaign, on higher education technology transfer. Mr. Burgess served as a Trustee for the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma. He served as a Trustee for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
Mr. Burgess served as Ambassador for the United States Army Reserve. He served as President of the Association of United States Army for Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was inducted by the United States Army into the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara. Mr. Burgess served as President of the Boy Scouts of America - Oklahoma Council and is an Eagle Scout. He is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Vigil Order of the Arrow, and God and Country Boy Scouts awards.
The Governor and Legislature of the State of Oklahoma honored Mr. Burgess by designating Interstate 44 through Lawton the "Bill W. Burgess, Jr. Highway." Cameron University has named their business center the "Bill W. Burgess, Jr. Business Center."
Mr. Burgess was named the Outstanding Philanthropist for Oklahoma by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, with this award being given to those with a proven record of generosity who, through financial support, have demonstrated outstanding civic and charitable responsibility.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Lawton - Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce
- Lawyer
- Member of the American
- U.S. Representative
Brad presently serves as Past- Chairman of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors for the Lawton Economic Development Corporation. He served on the Board of Directors of Wichita National Life Insurance Company. Brad served as President for the Crime Stoppers of Southwest Oklahoma organization for the year 2000 and has served on the Board of Directors for a number of years. Brad serves on the District Committee for the Last Frontier Council and Chairman of the Black Beaver District of the Boy Scouts of America. He has served as Chairman of the Finance Committee for a number of years for the Black Beaver District and served as Committee Member for Troop 175. Brad is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Last Frontier Council. Brad has also served on numerous community boards, including the United Way Board of Directors and Fit Kids of Southwest Oklahoma Coalition. He has been awarded the Saint Barbara Award by Fort Sill for his involvement with Fort Sill and the Troops stationed at Fort Sill.
Brad is also an active member of the American, Oklahoma and Comanche County Bar Association, a member of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He is also a Member of the Cameron University Alumni Association, and is licensed to practice in the federal courts for the Western and Eastern District of Oklahoma, and the Circuit Court of Appeals. In 1989-90 Burgess was selected as Outstanding Alumnus from the Communications Department of Cameron University 1990. He was selected as Cameron Outstanding Alumni in 2015.
Brad helps organize and bring in speakers for the annual Character Counts Boy Scout banquet, such as Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Former President of OSU, Burns Hargis, U.S. Representative Tom Cole, and U.S. Senator James Lankford.
In 2007, Brad and his brother, Bill, created the Burgess Family endowed lectureship in business at Cameron University. Brad and his wife, Karen, have also established a scholarship, the Bill and Betty Burgess Memorial Endowed scholarship, at Cameron University which supports the ROTC program.
Mr. Burgess has also worked at the local level setting on numerous eagle boards, and helped to finance several local eagle projects for Troop 175 and other troops. He has worked with Troop 175 to teach the citizenship merit badge and attended dozens of campouts. He was a Life Scout with 23 merit badges. He particularly enjoys identifying Oklahoma trees, flowers, stubs, and animal signs. He has spent and continues to spend countless hours with local scouts helping them advance in rank and fulfilling merit badge requirements. His father was involved in scouting since 1969. The Burgess Family has been involved in scouting in Comanche County through three generations for over 57 years. Brad and Karen's son, Corbin, is also an eagle scout.