Bill W. Burgess

Education:

Cameron University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1978
The University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 1980

Professional Organizations:

• Comanche County Bar Association
• Oklahoma Bar Association
• American Bar Association

Additional Details

Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Delta Phi; Member, Order of the Barristers; Regent and Past Chairman, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Past Chairman, Lawton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Past President, Boy Scouts of America for Southwest Oklahoma; Past President, Cameron Foundation, Inc. Chairman Emeritus of the Board, Techrizon, LLC. Former owner and publisher of The Lawton Constitution, Past chairman of Vortex Inc., He also was chairman and principal owner of Techrizon (formerly TELOS-OK), now known as CGI.

Bio

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.