Richard B. (Dick) Burleson is Vice President of DMJM Harris,
one of the largest engineering firms in the United States. He
is a native of Blount County and graduated with a Civil Engineering
Degree from Georgia Tech. Dick was later inducted into the Alabama
High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Besides his engineering career, Dick also rose to the Army Reserves
highest rank, that of Major General. He graduated from the Army
War College and was Commanding General of the largest Army Reserve
Command in the World. His command covered eight states, 40,000
troops and included over 5,000 soldiers placed on active duty
during Desert Storm. General Colin Powell personally decorated
General Burleson’s units.
One of his highest personal honors came, when General Burleson
received the Spirit of America's – Audie Murphy Patriotism
Award. He was the 23rd American to receive this award.
In addition to his engineering and military careers, Dick Burleson
has been a football official in the Southeastern Conference for
25 years and worked a full schedule of top SEC games every year
as head referee. Dick has served as Chief Referee and President
of the SEC. He officiated fifteen major bowl games and the SEC
Championship game. His last game on the field was as the head
referee for the National Championship Rose Bowl game.
He is now a SEC staff advisor on officiating and evaluates officials
performance each Saturday from the press box.
