Burgess honored at graduation

SHAWNEE (May 7, 2008) – Paul Burgess, instructor of political science at St. Gregory’s University, has been a fixture at St. Gregory’s since 1966. In that time, Burgess has been able to instruct all five of his children at St. Gregory’s, instruct some of his former students’ children and see the school go from a two- to a four-year institution. But this semester was his last as a full-time instructor. Burgess is retiring after nearly 42 years of service to the school.
Burgess was honored at SGU’s commencement exercises on Saturday with the school’s Legacy Award. SGU will also formally give Burgess the title of professor emeritus. The school’s commencement is set to begin at 11 a.m. inside W.P. Wood Field House.
“The time at St. Gregory’s has provided me an opportunity to interact with many nice and interesting persons,” Burgess said. “I will fondly remember some of the Benedictine monks who have passed away, as well as David Cawthon and John Clifton, who I met here. The living and present members of St. Gregory’s Abbey and the SGU faculty will be in my thoughts.”
Burgess earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., in 1958. He then entered the military, serving both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force before joining the Kansas National Guard and Air Force Reserves. After his honorable discharge, he received his master’s degree in political science from St. Louis University in 1966.
Since that time, Burgess has been active in Democratic Party politics. He  served as chairman of the Pottawatomie County Democratic Party, run for state representative, helped to organize Jimmy Carter’s local campaign for president, was an alternate delegate at the Democratic Mini-Convention in 1974 and has been a delegate at county, district and state party conventions.
Burgess served on numerous committees in his time at St. Gregory’s. He was chairman of the faculty life committee several times, served as a faculty representative and has been a faculty arbitrator for nearly 16 years. Burgess has also served on the school’s board of appeal and board of inquiry.
“My favorite part of being an instructor is the classroom atmosphere,” Burgess said in a recent interview. “I like the interaction with the students.”
Burgess and his wife, Maryann, have been married 48 years. He said after his retirement, he plans to travel and visit his children more often.
St. Gregory’s University is a private institution located in Shawnee, Okla. SGU is the only Catholic university in Oklahoma and the oldest institution of higher learning in the state.