Frank Burgess facts for kids
 |
|
| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 9, 1935 Eudora, Arkansas |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | March 26, 2010 (aged 75) University Place, Washington |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1961 / Round: 3 / Pick: 27th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Career history | |
| 1961–1962 | Hawaii Chiefs |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Franklin D. Burgess (born March 9, 1935 – died March 26, 2010) was an amazing American. He was both a professional basketball player and a very important judge. He served as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Contents
Frank Burgess's Early Life
Frank Burgess was born in a small town called Eudora, Arkansas. He once joked that his hometown was so tiny, the only fast food they had was if you hit a deer while driving fast!
He went to Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College for one year. This school is now known as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. While there, he also played on the basketball team.
Basketball in the Air Force
After college, Frank joined the Air Force. He spent four years serving in Europe. Even in Germany, he kept playing basketball. He was so good that he was chosen as one of the top 10 Air Force players in the world! While stationed at Hahn Air Force Base, he scored an amazing 33.4 points per game.
During this time, Frank met Mel Porter, another American Air Force officer. Mel had gone to Gonzaga University. He saw how talented Frank was and helped connect him with the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball coach, Hank Anderson. Frank also had interest from big schools like Kansas and USC. However, he chose Gonzaga because he felt it would best prepare him for life after basketball. He later said, "I had gotten out of the service, and I was married with twin girls. I was about getting an education and taking care of my family."
College Basketball Career
Frank Burgess started at Gonzaga University in the fall of 1958 after his time in the Air Force. He played basketball there for three years, from 1958 to 1961.
Leading Scorer at Gonzaga
Frank was the top scorer for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in all three seasons he played. He scored 40 or more points in a single game seven times! His personal best was an incredible 52 points against UC Davis.
In the 1960–61 season, he was the NCAA's top scorer with an average of 32.4 points per game. He finished his college career as Gonzaga's all-time leading scorer with 2,196 points.
All-American Honors
Frank received special All-American honors in both his junior and senior years. In his senior year, he was named a consensus Second Team All-American. This means many different groups agreed he was one of the best players in the country.
Even though his Gonzaga career ended in 1961, Frank Burgess is still remembered in the school's record books for many achievements:
|
Career Records
|
Season Records
|
Game Records
|
- These records were accurate through the 2009–10 season.
Life After Basketball
|
Frank Burgess
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | |
| In office March 9, 2005 – March 26, 2010 |
|
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | |
| In office March 28, 1994 – March 9, 2005 |
|
| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Jack Edward Tanner |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Hale Settle |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Gonzaga University (BA, JD) |
Frank Burgess earned his degree in education in the spring of 1961. The Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) then drafted him. However, he chose to play in a newer league called the American Basketball League with the Hawaii Chiefs. After two years, that league closed down.
Frank decided to go back to school to study law. He enrolled at the Gonzaga University School of Law. He did very well, graduating near the top of his class, even while working the midnight shift at a power company.
Legal Career and Becoming a Judge
From 1966 to 1967, Frank Burgess worked as a legal intern for the United States Atomic Energy Commission. After that, he became an assistant city attorney in Tacoma, Washington until 1969.
For the next 11 years, until 1980, Frank worked as a private lawyer with Jack Edward Tanner. During this time, he also served as a temporary judge for municipal and district courts. From 1980 to 1981, he was a regional counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Seattle. Then, from 1981 to 1993, he became a U.S. Magistrate in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Becoming a Federal Judge
Frank Burgess became a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. President Bill Clinton nominated him for this important role on November 19, 1993. The United States Senate confirmed his appointment on March 25, 1994, and he officially started his new job on March 28, 1994. He took on a less active role, called senior status, on March 9, 2005.
Frank Burgess passed away on March 26, 2010, after battling cancer.
