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==Background==

==Background==

A native of Shongaloo in Webster Parish, north of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]],<ref name=forstatesenate/> Burns is one of three sons of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Burns, Sr. In 1958, Burns, Sr. (1907-1976), won a write-in election for a seat on the Webster Parish School Board, having unseated the incumbent Parey Pershing Branton (1918-2011),<ref>"Burns Wins Over School Board Head: Gets 55 Percent of Votes for Victory over Branton", ''Minden Herald'', November 6, 1958, p.  1.</ref> his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], who was later the three-term District 10 state representative for Webster Parish. One of Burns' brothers, Kerry O. Burns (1940-2015), was a Webster Parish [[assessor (property)|property tax assessor]] prior to 2004. Another brother is A. J. Burns, Jr., of West Monroe, Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/kerry-o-burns/|title=Kerry O. Burns|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=May 22, 2015|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> Burns, Sr., was a nephew by marriage of [[O. H. Haynes, Sr.]], the Webster Parish sheriff from 1933 to 1952.

A native of Shongaloo in Webster Parish, north of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]],<ref name=forstatesenate/> Burns is one of three sons of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Burns, Sr. In 1958, Burns, Sr. (1907-1976), won a write-in election for a seat on the Webster Parish School Board, having unseated the incumbent Parey Pershing Branton (1918-2011),<ref>"Burns Wins Over School Board Head: Gets 55 Percent of Votes for Victory over Branton", ''Minden Herald'', November 6, 1958, p.  1.</ref> his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], who was later the three-term District 10 state representative for Webster Parish. One of Burns' brothers, Kerry O. Burns (1940-2015), was a Webster Parish property tax assessor prior to 2004. Another brother is A. J. Burns, Jr., of West Monroe, Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/kerry-o-burns/|title=Kerry O. Burns|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=May 22, 2015|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> Burns, Sr., was a nephew by marriage of [[O. H. Haynes, Sr.]], the Webster Parish sheriff from 1933 to 1952.

Henry Burns is a former member of the Bossier Parish School Board and a raconteur who frequently lectures at public schools on the guidelines to success in life, with emphasis on perseverance.

Henry Burns is a former member of the Bossier Parish School Board and a raconteur who frequently lectures at public schools on the guidelines to success in life, with emphasis on perseverance.

Until the late 1980s, Burns was an independent [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] operator. When the business failed, he launched his bakery despite the odds against success and his having to learn the business from scratch. "I went from crude oil to Crisco oil," Burns said, noting that his [[accountant]], [[banker]]s, and [[attorney]] told him that he had too much debt for his venture to succeed. Nevertheless, the Wooden Spoon had some success: "No one knew I was down and out because I had a smile on my face and never stopped." Burns said that the bakery succeeded because "people respond to cookies ... [as] a reminder of their childhood."<ref>"State Representative offers students encouragement", ''The Shreveport Times'', December 3, 2008.</ref>

Until the late 1980s, Burns was an independent [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] operator. When the business failed, he launched his bakery despite the odds against success and his having to learn the business from scratch. "I went from crude oil to Crisco oil," Burns said, noting that his [[accountant]], [[banker]]s, and [[attorney]] told him that he had too much debt for his venture to succeed. Nevertheless, the Wooden Spoon had some success: "No one knew I was down and out because I had a smile on my face and never stopped." Burns said that the bakery succeeded because "people respond to cookies ... [as] a reminder of their childhood."<ref>"State Representative offers students encouragement", ''The Shreveport Times'', December 3, 2008.</ref>

   

   

Burns graduated in 1965 from Shongaloo High School. He received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in upper elementary education from Northwestern State University in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] and his [[Master of Arts]] in educational administration from [[Pepperdine University]], a [[Churches of Christ]] institution in [[Malibu, California|Malibu]], [[California]].<ref name=pvs/>

Burns graduated in 1965 from Shongaloo High School. He received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in upper elementary education from Northwestern State University in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] and his [[Master of Arts]] in educational administration from [[Pepperdine University]], a [[Churches of Christ]] institution in [[Malibu]], [[California]].<ref name=pvs/>

==Military service==

==Military service==