HARRY BURGESS

Harry Burgess was born in Starkville, Mississippi, on February 22, 1872, his parents were James and Susan Foster Burgess. He was a student of the School of Mechanical and Agriculture of Mississippi from 1888 to 1891, then graduated from the Military Academy of the United States West Point in 1895.Fue instructor in engineering from the Academy at West Point from 1898-1900, then worked in the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army with the rank of colonel in July 1 1920.Burgess was in charge of studies and project design development energy Muscle Shoals, Alabama and maintenance engineer Channel Panama from 1924 to 1928 in 1912 he married Mary Lillington Mckoy.

Burgess was appointed Governor of the Panama Canal Zone in October 1928, and served in that post until 1932 During his tenure, the channel traffic volume increased rapidly and steadily until it reached the limit in 1929 This emphasized the need identified by Walker, to provide an efficient service for a great future traffic and much of the Governor Burgess efforts were directed toward that goal.

Burgess saw the need for preliminary work in order to increase channel capacity with the construction of a dam for water storage needed for channel operation, and maintenance of the water level in Lake Gatun.

Governor Burgess was a very gentle man, and always maintained great sympathy among people under his command. He was affable and really understand the needs and problems of employees. He took great interest in the lives of the people doing the work of operation and maintenance of the canal, and identified closely with workers more than they could imagine themselves.

As an example, he worked very hard, (and much instructed in this), for the rights of the Retirement Act of the Canal Zone, which favorably affected every employee of the waterway. Burgess also planned the construction of school buildings, rooms for singles and nurses and established a public library and the College of the Canal Zone. Unlike his predecessor, Burgess was leaning all the details and saw that all problems should be addressed to him well studied and carefully analyzed and then make quick decisions and good judgment. His term as Governor of the Canal Zone ended in 1932, and the news of his death on March 18, 1933, was received with deep regret among workers Channel.