Franklin Burgess

Obituary The Honorable Franklin D. Burgess Judge Franklin D. Burgess passed away peacefully on March 26, 2010 after a battle with cancer. He was born in Eudora, Arkansas on March 9, 1935 to Morris and Ollie Burgess. He attended Eudora Colored High School before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. He later went on to attend Gonzaga University and the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington. While there, he was a class officer, student body representative and class president. In 1995, he received the Gonzaga Law School Distinguished Judicial Service Award. Judge Burgess was also a basketball All-American at Gonzaga, leading the nation in scoring in 1961. He is a member of Gonzaga's Basketball Hall of Fame, the state of Washington sports Hall of Fame, the Inland Empire Hall of Fame and was selected to the U.S. colleges 1986 Silver Anniversary All-America Basketball Team. His Gonzaga basketball jersey was retired in February 2005 and he was inducted into the West Coast Conference Hall of Honor in March 2009. Judge Burgess was appointed to his position as United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington by President William Clinton in March 1994. Prior to becoming a District Judge, he served as a United States Magistrate Judge for 12 years; Regional Counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Region 10; and a partner in the law firm of Tanner, McGavick, Burgess, et al. He has also been an Assistant City Attorney for Tacoma and Judge pro tem for the Tacoma Municipal Court and the District Court of Pierce County. Judge Burgess was the recipient of the Loren Miller Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Service Award from the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington. He was also given the key to the City of Eudora, Arkansas in October 1997. Judge Burgess has been a member of numerous organizations, including the Pierce County, state and Loren Miller Bar Associations; Tacoma Boys Club; Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts; Urban League; past president of the local chapter of the NAACP; the Board of Regents of Gonzaga University and Shiloh Baptist Church. He also participated in many building projects with Habitat for Humanity, one of his great passions. Judge Burgess is survived by his wife, Treava; four daughters Dr. Cheryl Burgess (Andre'), Carole Burgess, Frava Burgess, Whittney Burgess; son, Steven Burgess; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a Godson; five brothers and two sisters. A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 10:00am at St. Charles Borromeo Church. There will be a reception following at Bellarmine Preparatory School Student Center starting at 12:30 pm. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.