Pictures of former President Ronald Reagan, Governor Bobby Jindal, and USA flags along the wall gave insight as to Burns' loyalty to his country and conservative political leanings. Photos of his wife, Helen Andrews Burns, and their four daughters and nine grandchildren contributed to making this working man's office look like his home away from home. Staff members in the surrounding offices of Burns Forest Products continued their work as Burns took time out to visit.

Burns was born in 1923 on a farm at Shongaloo, Webster Parish, Louisiana, and was next to youngest of ten children. "People ask when they learn that I was born in Shongaloo, if it was Old Shongaloo or New Shongaloo," Burns began. "I tell them that I went to church in Old Shongaloo, to school in New Shongaloo from our farm about half way in between. I say that I walked a mile from our home to meet the school bus. Actually, it was about 3/4 mile, but a mile sounds better, I think. My parents owned a good-sized farm and had ten sons and daughters. One of my brothers drowned in 1930 and, today at eighty-seven, I am the only one left of the ten. I was born in the front edge of the Great Depression and Papa was growing cotton to support our family," he continued.

President Roosevelt and his administration, in an attempt to deal with the national economy emergency came up with the New Deal, a revolution in the American way of life. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), one part of Roosevelt's program, was created to raise farm prices by taking land out of production. "Papa took Roosevelt's New Deal guidelines seriously." Burns said. "One of every four rows of cotton was plowed up and replanted with a row of speckled peas. This was supposed to reduce cotton production nation wide by 25 percemt. This qualified him for an annual 'pea check' which we needed in the economic crisis of the Depression."

"We all got up early every morning to do our homework, milk a bunch of cows, and tend to about a hundred chickens. We had a separator to separate the cream. A store in Haynesville bought it and sold sour cream. We had no ice or refrigeration at that time, so we lowered buckets of milk down in our well to keep it from spoiling. With ten of us to feed, that milk didn't last long. Mama and Papa sold eggs to add to our family income. It was the way of life in the country at the time and I attribute my work ethic to those early years," Burns said. "I graduated from Shongaloo High School in 1940. It was a relatively small country school but I got the basics I needed to continue my education."

On December 7, 1941, one day after President Roosevelt appealed to Emperor Hirohito to use his influence to avert war, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the major U. S. base in Hawaii, killing 2,403 American soldiers, sailors, and civilians. Nineteen ships and 292 aircraft and were destroyed or damaged. Defying all American expectations of their military capabilities, the Japanese made simultaneous strikes on Guam, Midway, and British bases in Hong Kong and Singapore. Japan declared war on the United States. Addressing a joint session of Congress on December 8, Roosevelt asked for a declaration of war on Japan.

Joe D. Burns was called to duty and served with the U.S. Army as an Infantry officer in three campaigns in the European Theater of Operations and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. He was released from active duty in the Army Reserves as a Captain. Then after going on to serve four years in the Louisiana National Guard he was discharged as a Major. After graduating from Louisiana State University with a BS degree in Forestry in 1947, and then gaining his MF degree in 1948, he went forward toward his dream of becoming a tree farmer.

He was employed for two years as a Farm Forester with the L.S.U. Extension Service in DeSoto, Natchitoches, and Sabine Parishes, and then worked twelve years as Chief Forester for Tremont Lumber Company in Joyce, La. In 1962, he became self-employed as a timber dealer and a year later founded Burns Forest Products Inc., a family owned corporation engaged in timber marketing and management. He has served continuously as its president since that time and, with oversight of more than 15,000 acres of timberlands in twelve parishes in Louisiana and Counties in Arkansas, he achieved his goal, truly become a tree farmer.

Reflecting on his life experiences, Burns said, "The experience gained throughout my life shaped and molded me. The way of life during my growing up years contributed to my work ethic and taught me how to use the land for supporting the family. Burns Forest Products didn't begin big but was built over the years by purchasing small plots of land that became available. One could say that I was a Depression era kid who grew up on the farm with no indoor plumbing, water from an outside well, sore hands from picking cotton, and Castor Oil for whatever ailed me. A loving family nourished me. We went to church on Sunday, and, we went to school most of the time during the week. My life experience has not always been roses. Being human, I've experienced good times and bad. Today, I am thankful for my family, employees, the USA, friends, for all the LSU football games I attend, and.... I am thankful that I can come to work in Danville most days."

Joe D. Burns has a lengthy list of professional achievements and recognition. He became a member of the Society of American Foresters in 1948 and has been a member continuously to present. In 1973, he received from the Gulf States Section, the Distinguished Service to Forestry Award in Louisiana. He served as President twice, (1952-53 and 1976-77) of the LSU School of Forestry Alumni Association. He was active from the beginning in the Louisiana Tree Farm Program, being one of the first tree farm inspectors, is a timberland owner and a Certified Tree Farmer.

Burns was an organizer and charter member of the Louisiana Forestry Association, and has held most offices, including the presidency of the LFA, and remains active as an emeritus member of its Board of Directors. He was also active in the organization of the original Louisiana Forest Festival in Winnfield during the 1950s, and serves on the Louisiana Forestry Commission, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, and Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation.

Burns is a member of Jonesboro United Methodist Church and has served in leadership roles in both Winnfield and Jonesboro. He is a member of Lions International, Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce, Advance Country Club and over the years has been active in Boy Scout and Girl Scout Programs as well as other civic activities.

Called " Mr. Joe" by many, he has helped many loggers get their start in business. He is most proud of his work with the Louisiana Forestry Foundation, an affiliated service group of the Louisiana Forestry Association, serving as President since its inception in September 1967. The foundation awards over 40 scholarships annually to Louisiana Tech and LSU Forestry students. The Foundation has awarded over a half million dollars in scholarships since its beginning.

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