L. A. (Lester) Burns

2004 Effingham County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 

He was born on September 1, 1932 in Shawnee, Georgia.  He graduated from Effingham Academy in 1950 where he played baseball, basketball, and track.  The 1949 baseball team won first place in District and went on to become Class “C” champions in the state of Georgia by defeating Fort Gaines 24-4.  L.A. played second base.  He was offered an athletic scholarship to Brewton Parker College.

While serving in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict, he played baseball on the U.S.S. Carpenter team when in port at Pearl Harbor.  Upon returning to California, he played on the U.S.S. Cunningham team which stationed at Long Beach.

In 1955, he played in the Effingham County league with the Shawnee team and later joined the Springfield team. Following this, he played with the Effingham Crackers in the Savannah River League.

An ordained deacon, he is active in the First Baptist Church of Rincon.  He played with church teams in softball and basketball and also with the First Baptist Church of Springfield when a member there.

A past president of the Rincon Jaycees, he was a charter member and active during the formative years of this organization.

As a business owner of Burns Oil Company, Burns Service Center, and Burns Trucking, he sponsored teams in basketball and purchased uniforms. He tired from business in 1992.

He has played golf since 1972. In 1992 he was on the second flight that won the Willowpeg Club Championship.  He formed the senior league and called Burns league in 1998.

L.A. married the former Walton Ewing and they have one son, John, and three daughters, Michele, Bonnie and Caroline.  They have 4 grandchildren, Elijah, Laurie, and Carson Burns and Nicolas Morgan.