June 15,1931- January 15, 2012
Major Curtis M. Burns, USAF Retired, was a career fighter pilot who loved planes, guns, the Aggies, his country, his family, big band music, his indoor pool and old movies, especially comedies. He died quietly of a heart attack on Sunday, January 15. Hillier Funeral Home will hold a viewing on Wednesday, January 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., and a memorial service on Thursday, January 19, at 11 a.m., with a military graveside service to follow at Bryan City Cemetery.
Curtis was born and raised in Bryan/College Station, a 5th generation Texan. He attended Consolidated while his family lived on the TAMU campus from 2nd to 9th grade, but graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1948. He immediately entered his beloved Texas A&M, where he was initially quartered at the Annex.
1952 was a big year for Curtis. He graduated from A&M with a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Design, married his high school sweetheart Mary Ann Adams, and entered the US Air Force at Kelly Field in San Antonio. A year later he entered pilot training in Bartow, Florida, and his career began in earnest.
Over the course of his USAF service, Curtis flew first-generation jets, including T-33s, F-86s, F-100s and F-4s. His name is on a dedication wall at the National Air & Space Museum at Dulles for F-86 pilots. Curtis' service in the US and Europe included stints as an instructor and flying safety officer, and he was also a combat pilot in Vietnam. While in the service, he received a Masters degree in Systems Management from USC.
The family retired back to Bryan in 1973, where Curtis became an instructor at A&M in the Executive Development Program. He also initiated formation of a competition pistol team for TAMU, which he coached for 35 years, retiring in 2009. The National Rifle Association presents the Curtis Burns trophy each year to the Collegiate ROTC Pistol Team Champions.
In recent years, Curtis' favorite association has been with the BSA (Been Shot At) group of retired military pilots that meets weekly for breakfast at Denny's.
Curtis is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann Burns; his younger son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Tracie Burns of Georgetown; his brother, Jack Burns ('61) of Arlington and his wife Jan; close friends, Linda and Jack Teague ('59) of Bryan; and BSA.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Patton Wright Burns ('23) and Julia Wilcox Burns, and his son Glen Alan Burns ('78).
Major Curtis M. Burns, USAF Retired, was a career fighter pilot who loved planes, guns, the Aggies, his country, his family, big band music, his indoor pool and old movies, especially comedies. He died quietly of a heart attack on Sunday, January 15. Hillier Funeral Home will hold a viewing on Wednesday, January 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., and a memorial service on Thursday, January 19, at 11 a.m., with a military graveside service to follow at Bryan City Cemetery.
Curtis was born and raised in Bryan/College Station, a 5th generation Texan. He attended Consolidated while his family lived on the TAMU campus from 2nd to 9th grade, but graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1948. He immediately entered his beloved Texas A&M, where he was initially quartered at the Annex.
1952 was a big year for Curtis. He graduated from A&M with a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Design, married his high school sweetheart Mary Ann Adams, and entered the US Air Force at Kelly Field in San Antonio. A year later he entered pilot training in Bartow, Florida, and his career began in earnest.
Over the course of his USAF service, Curtis flew first-generation jets, including T-33s, F-86s, F-100s and F-4s. His name is on a dedication wall at the National Air & Space Museum at Dulles for F-86 pilots. Curtis' service in the US and Europe included stints as an instructor and flying safety officer, and he was also a combat pilot in Vietnam. While in the service, he received a Masters degree in Systems Management from USC.
The family retired back to Bryan in 1973, where Curtis became an instructor at A&M in the Executive Development Program. He also initiated formation of a competition pistol team for TAMU, which he coached for 35 years, retiring in 2009. The National Rifle Association presents the Curtis Burns trophy each year to the Collegiate ROTC Pistol Team Champions.
In recent years, Curtis' favorite association has been with the BSA (Been Shot At) group of retired military pilots that meets weekly for breakfast at Denny's.
Curtis is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann Burns; his younger son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Tracie Burns of Georgetown; his brother, Jack Burns ('61) of Arlington and his wife Jan; close friends, Linda and Jack Teague ('59) of Bryan; and BSA.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Patton Wright Burns ('23) and Julia Wilcox Burns, and his son Glen Alan Burns ('78).
June 15,1931- January 15, 2012
Major Curtis M. Burns, USAF Retired, was a career fighter pilot who loved planes, guns, the Aggies, his country, his family, big band music, his indoor pool and old movies, especially comedies. He died quietly of a heart attack on Sunday, January 15. Hillier Funeral Home will hold a viewing on Wednesday, January 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., and a memorial service on Thursday, January 19, at 11 a.m., with a military graveside service to follow at Bryan City Cemetery.
Curtis was born and raised in Bryan/College Station, a 5th generation Texan. He attended Consolidated while his family lived on the TAMU campus from 2nd to 9th grade, but graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1948. He immediately entered his beloved Texas A&M, where he was initially quartered at the Annex.
1952 was a big year for Curtis. He graduated from A&M with a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Design, married his high school sweetheart Mary Ann Adams, and entered the US Air Force at Kelly Field in San Antonio. A year later he entered pilot training in Bartow, Florida, and his career began in earnest.
Over the course of his USAF service, Curtis flew first-generation jets, including T-33s, F-86s, F-100s and F-4s. His name is on a dedication wall at the National Air & Space Museum at Dulles for F-86 pilots. Curtis' service in the US and Europe included stints as an instructor and flying safety officer, and he was also a combat pilot in Vietnam. While in the service, he received a Masters degree in Systems Management from USC.
The family retired back to Bryan in 1973, where Curtis became an instructor at A&M in the Executive Development Program. He also initiated formation of a competition pistol team for TAMU, which he coached for 35 years, retiring in 2009. The National Rifle Association presents the Curtis Burns trophy each year to the Collegiate ROTC Pistol Team Champions.
In recent years, Curtis' favorite association has been with the BSA (Been Shot At) group of retired military pilots that meets weekly for breakfast at Denny's.
Curtis is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann Burns; his younger son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Tracie Burns of Georgetown; his brother, Jack Burns ('61) of Arlington and his wife Jan; close friends, Linda and Jack Teague ('59) of Bryan; and BSA.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Patton Wright Burns ('23) and Julia Wilcox Burns, and his son Glen Alan Burns ('78).
Major Curtis M. Burns, USAF Retired, was a career fighter pilot who loved planes, guns, the Aggies, his country, his family, big band music, his indoor pool and old movies, especially comedies. He died quietly of a heart attack on Sunday, January 15. Hillier Funeral Home will hold a viewing on Wednesday, January 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., and a memorial service on Thursday, January 19, at 11 a.m., with a military graveside service to follow at Bryan City Cemetery.
Curtis was born and raised in Bryan/College Station, a 5th generation Texan. He attended Consolidated while his family lived on the TAMU campus from 2nd to 9th grade, but graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1948. He immediately entered his beloved Texas A&M, where he was initially quartered at the Annex.
1952 was a big year for Curtis. He graduated from A&M with a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Design, married his high school sweetheart Mary Ann Adams, and entered the US Air Force at Kelly Field in San Antonio. A year later he entered pilot training in Bartow, Florida, and his career began in earnest.
Over the course of his USAF service, Curtis flew first-generation jets, including T-33s, F-86s, F-100s and F-4s. His name is on a dedication wall at the National Air & Space Museum at Dulles for F-86 pilots. Curtis' service in the US and Europe included stints as an instructor and flying safety officer, and he was also a combat pilot in Vietnam. While in the service, he received a Masters degree in Systems Management from USC.
The family retired back to Bryan in 1973, where Curtis became an instructor at A&M in the Executive Development Program. He also initiated formation of a competition pistol team for TAMU, which he coached for 35 years, retiring in 2009. The National Rifle Association presents the Curtis Burns trophy each year to the Collegiate ROTC Pistol Team Champions.
In recent years, Curtis' favorite association has been with the BSA (Been Shot At) group of retired military pilots that meets weekly for breakfast at Denny's.
Curtis is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann Burns; his younger son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Tracie Burns of Georgetown; his brother, Jack Burns ('61) of Arlington and his wife Jan; close friends, Linda and Jack Teague ('59) of Bryan; and BSA.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Patton Wright Burns ('23) and Julia Wilcox Burns, and his son Glen Alan Burns ('78).
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