Long time state and national transportation construction industry leader David Burrows passed away September 29 in Roanoke, VA. He was 93. Burrows served as chairman of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association in 1982. He was the father-in-law of Florida Transportation Builders’ Association President Bob Burleson and is survived by three children, 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Burrows was a 1942 graduate of Virginia Tech and served as an Army officer in the U.S., France, Germany and Okinawa. In 1946, he joined the Wiley N. Jackson Construction Company in Virginia, becoming its president in 1964. When the Jackson Company was sold in 1987, he served as chairman of the firm’s board of directors.
In addition to his many years of national leadership on the ARTBA Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Contractors Division, Burrows was also very active in the Virginia Road Builders Association. He served as the VRBA chairman in 1962. He served two terms, from 1971-1982, on state’s Licensing Board for Contractors as a governor appointee. He also served six years as a member of the Roanoke City School Board and was active in many other community organizations.
Burrows' very generous support of Virginia Tech included establishment of a permanent professorship of construction management at the university. His most cherished honor, however, was being named the Roanoke Valley’s “Father of the Year” in 1973.
There will be a private family interment service followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, October 2, at the South Roanoke United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to South Roanoke United Methodist Church Columbarium Fund, 2330 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24014, or Ferrum College, P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24008, or Emory and Henry College, P.O. Box 950, Emory, VA 24327.
