Lyman Ward Military Academy

Robert was born in Franklinton, Louisiana to Glendora Schilling and James M. Burris on January 17, 1953. He is one of five children with two older sisters, one older and one younger brother. The Burris family was a frequent sight at Lyman Ward during the late sixty's and early seventies when all three brothers attended the Academy. Robert, commonly known to his classmates, as "little Red" (his older brother was called "big Red") attended Lyman Ward for 5 years starting in the seventh grade and graduating in 1971. When asked why he attended Lyman Ward he often explained, "My older brother was having some academic issues in school so my Dad decided to send him to Lyman Ward. Older brother, Big Red, improved his grades so one day Dad told David and me, congratulations, your older brother has done so well at Lyman Ward you and David get to go also. End of story."

Robert entered the academy in the fall of 1966 as a very young seventh grader. With great assistance from a host of faculty, staff, and classmates Robert graduated five years later as the Corp of Cadets Battalion Commander. To this day Robert attributes many of his successes in life to the influence of the members of the Lyman Ward Staff, particularly Col. Paul Hovey, an instructor, Capt. Paul Tate, an instructor, Col. Ramsey, Academic Dean, and Col. Jenrette, Professor of Military Instruction at the time and Coach Gooden, instructor and athletic coach. It is interesting to note that two of these individuals later in their careers served as Presidents of the academy.

During his time at Lyman Ward, Robert was involved in just about everything it offered. He served in many capacities on different clubs, sports, and academics. (Note the attached reference to the 1971 Senior Yearbook) A couple of highlights he has fond memories of were being elected as the President of the State of Alabama Beta Clubs. Col. (Capt. At the time) Hovey was instrumental in guiding Robert through the process of running for the office. Robert later received a personal letter from the President of the United States, President Nixon at the time, commenting on his campaign speech and commending him for his dedication to his country.

He also reflected on Col. Jenrette (Major at the time) pushing him to try and get accepted to the United Stated Military Academy, West Point. Robert recalls going along with Col. Jenrette in opening a file with West Point, taking the appropriate entrance exams, and traveling to Fort Benning GA to take the physical exams. All the time thinking there is no way he was going to continue with any type of military school. After five years of Lyman Ward all he wanted was a normal life. Long story short, on May 5, 1971, graduation day, Major Jenrette informed Robert he had just received word that he had received a competitive appointment to West Point. Robert thanked him profusely and proclaimed he was attending a real civilian college, one in which he could let his hair grow longer than 1 inch and go to a classroom that had girls in it. (At that time Lyman Ward and West Pont accepted only male students).

And the rest of the story: On July 5, of that same year, 1971, Robert entered the plebe (freshman) class of the United Stated Military Academy. What expired between May 5th and June 5th of that year is a story for another time.

Four years later Robert received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regular Army and BS degree in General Engineering from West Point. After attending the Infantry Officers Basic Course, airborne jump school, and Ranger School he was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart Georgia.

For the next six years Robert and his wife Deborah were assigned to various bases across the US. In March of 1980 as a Captain, Robert assumed command of the Combat Support Company of the 1st Battalion, 40th Armored Division based in Ft. Polk Louisiana. Along the way two of their three children were born. In April of 1981 after giving up his command, Robert resigned his regular Army commission to begin a new career in the corporate world.

Robert joined the ranks of Crown Zellerbach Corporation, a paper manufacturing company based out San Francisco, California. During one of his interviews he recalled telling the interviewer he had never been in a paper mill in his life. To which they responded, not to worry, we are hiring you for your leadership skills and your background. As luck would have it his first assignment was back in Louisiana in a paper mill located in Bogalusa, a small town less than 20 miles from he and Deborah's home town of Frankinton. While living in Bogalusa their third child, Rebecca, was born. Robert worked in the production department of the paper mill rising to the job of Superintendent of the Power House responsible for the boilers and generators supplying power to the mill.

In 1986 Robert left Crown Zellerbach and went to work for Arizona Chemical Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Paper Company. Arizona was headquartered in Panama City, Florida (tough place to live) and operated four refineries located throughout the Southeastern United Stated. Robert started with the company in their technical services group assisting paper mills throughout North America in the collection turpentine and tall oil. Within this company he rose to the position of Director of Procurement for the corporation. In this capacity he directed the purchasing of all goods and services for the refineries and traveled throughout North and South America sourcing raw materials for the refineries.

In 1990 the winds of change started blowing again when his father and brothers started putting pressure on him to "stop playing around and come join the family business". Robert's family had a long reputation of entrepreneurship having started businesses in Southern Louisiana and Mississippi dating back to 1889 when Robert's Great, Great, Great, Grandfather started Burris Brothers Dry Goods and General Store. Burris Brothers exists today functioning as a holding company.

In March of 1991, once a again Robert left what some call Paradise, "The Emerald Coast of Florida", and relocated his family back to Louisiana. He joined Burris Mill and Feed Company based in Franklinton. From there he and younger brother David, who graduated from Lyman Ward two years after Robert, and LSU four years later, guided and directed the company to new plateaus. Leaving the mainstay of the livestock industry, Aquaculture was identified as a growth industry and one in which Burris Mill would be able to grow and prosper. In 1992, Burris Aquaculture and Specialty Feeds was formed and began a new era for the Burris family Businesses. Over the next fifteen years the business was transformed into the largest manufacturer of specialty Aquaculture feeds in the United Stated. They specialized in developing rations for emerging aquaculture species that were being grown on a commercial basis. Robert said, "our motto was we never told a customer no." It they wanted round pellets that were hard as a rock we found a way to make it. We also explained up front it was going to be very expensive. If a customer wanted 100 pounds of a product we would sell him 100 pounds. But he would also pay for the full 2000 pounds that if took us to make the 100 pounds to meet our quality specification. We quickly earned the reputation of being the most expensive manufacturer in the industry but also the one that would get the customer what he wanted. Burris Aquaculture grew to manufacture rations for all types of species living in the water such as, shrimp, alligators, turtles, crayfish, abalone, couch, redfish, trout, just to name a few. In 2003 over 70 percent if their production was exported outside of the US primarily to countries in Central and South America. They also shipped product to customers located in Kuwait, Nigeria, and Israel.

In late 2003 one of Burris Aquaculture major international competitors came knocking. Their stated objective was to get Burris to manufacture some product for them. As it turned out they were trying to figure out how a small company in South Louisiana was able to compete all over the world and win against an international giant like Cargill. Robert and David's response was simple, "we will not tell you but we will show you." In April of 2004 Burris Aquaculture was sold to Cargill and Robert started another career within the corporate world.

For the next five years Robert was employed by Cargill Animal Nutrition traveling to Cargill facilities throughout Latin America. In his words, "Our secret was pretty simple, listen to the customer and give them what they needed to succeed. When you placed their long-term success above your own short term needs, the rewards would come."

In 2009 Robert retired from Cargill. Today he is fully engaged in giving back to family, people, church and communities as well as and any worthwhile nonprofit. He travels often throughout the southeast pulling his tool trailer, barbeque pit, or RV.

It all started at Lyman Ward. The character traits of respect, accountability, discipline, dedication, integrity and leadership were introduced at Lyman Ward. They were nurtured for five years and then fine-tuned while attending West Point. I could not have asked for a better way to start my life and will be eternally grateful to all those who guided and influenced me along the way.

Nineteen cadets made the long journey on November 10 to Charleston, S. C., to spend the weekend at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina.  They returned to Lyman Ward on November 13.   COL Bill Jenrette, President of the Academy, graduated from The Citadel in 1960.  This is the third year he has sponsored the trip to The Citadel during its Homecoming Weekend.

Academic Dean MAJ Jeff Damron and Commandant of Cadets LTC Pat Kelly accompanied the Colonel and the cadets on the trip.

The Citadel is a four-year military college with an enrollment of 2,100 cadets.  The campus is unlike any I have seen before.  Its buildings look like castles, and includes a number of academic and residential structures.  The college has five living quarters, or barracks – Murray, the largest and most well known; Padgett-Thomas; Law; Watts; and Stevens.

Citadel cadets do many of the same things Lyman Ward cadets do, such as formations, wearing the exact same military uniforms, and a “scrub” system they call “knobs.”  The primary difference is that The Citadel’s freshmen are “knobs” for an entire year, instead of 28 days.

Academics play a vital role in The Citadel’s history and current operation.  Two Lyman Ward graduates from the LWMA Class of 2011 are currently in their “knob year” at The Citadel: Benjamin Grant from Lafayette, LA, and McKenzie Pepper from Fairhope, AL.  Grant is majoring in history, and Pepper is majoring in political science.  Pepper received a four-year U. S. Army ROTC scholarship to attend college.

The Citadel is the last military institute – and the only college or university in the nation – to have an honor system completely run by the cadets.

The trip was a valuable one for me, and I learned core values that can help me understand the role academics and military structure play in my life as a high school student at Lyman Ward Military Academy.

This Article was first published in The Sentinel, the cadet news magazine.  You can find out more information about The Sentinel here.