William E. Burney

Who was William E. Burney?

William Evans Burney was a U.S. Representative from Colorado.

Born in Hubbard, Texas, Burney attended the public schools in Texas and the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. During the First World War served in the United States Navy. He moved to Pueblo, Colorado, in 1924 and engaged in the life insurance business until 1942. He served as member of the Pueblo board of education 1937-1943. He served as member of the United States Army Reserve Corps 1924-1942, serving in all grades up to major.

Burney was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John A. Martin and served from November 5, 1940, to January 3, 1941. He was not a candidate for election to the full term in the Seventy-seventh Congress. He was called to active duty in the Army as a major in January 1942 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in October 1942. He returned to the United States from India and took command of Camp Ross in May 1945. He left the service in December 1945 with the rank of colonel. He resumed the life insurance business until his retirement. He died in Denver, Colorado, January 29, 1969. He was interred in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.