| | '''Frank Robinson Burnside, Sr.''' (February 19, 1915 – October 2018), was an agricultural [[business]]man from Newellton in northeastern [[Louisiana]] | | '''Frank Robinson Burnside, Sr.''' (February 19, 1915 – October 2018), was an agricultural [[business]]man from Newellton in northeastern [[Louisiana]] |
| − | Burnside was born on Franklin Plantation near Newellton to [[W. W. Burnside|Wade Walker Burnside, Sr.]], and the former Hester Patton. As a child, he became interested in both agriculture and flight. He attended Kemper Military School in Booneville, [[Missouri]], which closed in 2002. He enlisted in the [[United States Army]] Air Corps (the forerunner of the [[United States Air Force]]) after the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Hawaii]], by the empire of [[Japan]] on December 7, 1941. He was the chief pilot for the 20th Air Force in [[India]]. He flew fifty-five missions over a route called "The Hump," a dangerous supply crossing of the [[Himalayas]] into [[China]]. On returning to the home front, he served as a captain charged with delivering military aircraft around the country with the Air Transport Command, 4th Ferrying Group. He was awarded the Air Medal and the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] for his service abroad. In 2015, the [[People's Republic of China]] presented him with the "Flying Tiger Victory Medal".<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=frank-burnside&pid=190635058&fhid=20713|title=Frank Burnside obituary|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=November 2, 2018}}</ref> | + | Burnside was born on Franklin Plantation near Newellton to [[W. W. Burnside|Wade Walker Burnside, Sr.]], and the former Hester Patton. As a child, he became interested in both agriculture and flight. He attended Kemper Military School in Booneville, [[Missouri]], which closed in 2002. He enlisted in the [[United States Army]] Air Corps (the forerunner of the [[United States Air Force]]) after the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Hawaii]], by the empire of [[Japan]] on December 7, 1941. He was the chief pilot for the 20th Air Force in [[India]]. He flew fifty-five missions over a route called "The Hump," a dangerous supply crossing of the [[Himalayas]] into [[China]]. On returning to the home front, he served as a captain charged with delivering military aircraft around the country with the Air Transport Command, 4th Ferrying Group. He was awarded the Air Medal and the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] for his service abroad. In 2015, the [[People's Republic of China]] presented him with the "Flying Tiger Victory Medal".<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=frank-burnside&pid=190635058&fhid=20713|title=Frank Burnside obituary|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=November 2, 2018}}</ref> |
| | On his return to Newellton, Burnside owned and operated Newellton Elevator Company, Delta Gin Company, and Franklin Plantation, along with his father and twin brother, Ben Patton Burnside (1915-1991). He was also the chairman of the board of Tensas State Bank for more than two decades. From 1958 to 1966, Burnside, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], served two terms as the [[mayor]] of Newellton, a post his father had also filled from 1924 to 1940. In 1948, he established the Mississippi Chemical Corporation. He served on the board for thirty-five years. He was also instrumental in founding Great River Grain in 1970 and Farm and Livestock Credit in 1974. He was the long-term president of Panola Company, Ltd., a position previously also held by his father. He sat on the board of directors of Union Oil Mill. Maintaining his interest in aviation, Burnside piloted a Beechcraft airplane to explore [[North America]] from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to the [[Pacific Ocean]] as well as the [[Canada|Canadian]] wilderness.<ref name=obit/> | | On his return to Newellton, Burnside owned and operated Newellton Elevator Company, Delta Gin Company, and Franklin Plantation, along with his father and twin brother, Ben Patton Burnside (1915-1991). He was also the chairman of the board of Tensas State Bank for more than two decades. From 1958 to 1966, Burnside, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], served two terms as the [[mayor]] of Newellton, a post his father had also filled from 1924 to 1940. In 1948, he established the Mississippi Chemical Corporation. He served on the board for thirty-five years. He was also instrumental in founding Great River Grain in 1970 and Farm and Livestock Credit in 1974. He was the long-term president of Panola Company, Ltd., a position previously also held by his father. He sat on the board of directors of Union Oil Mill. Maintaining his interest in aviation, Burnside piloted a Beechcraft airplane to explore [[North America]] from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to the [[Pacific Ocean]] as well as the [[Canada|Canadian]] wilderness.<ref name=obit/> |