Burge named Chamber's 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award winner

The Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce issued its most prestigious annual award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, to local business owner and elected official Neil Burge at its Monday night banquet.

Burge, the son of Neil H. and Nadene Burge, was born in Batesville and took his first job working deliveries on a milk truck with his father at age 11. He then got his first retail experience by working in a grocery store.

In high school, he was class president for three years, worked on the yearbook staff, managed the basketball team, attended Boy's State, was named "Mr. Pioneer," and graduated with honors. He then attended Lyon College, known in 1961 as Arkansas College.

As part of a work study program, Burge went to work at Heuer's Shoe Store in downtown Batesville, which eventually led to Heuer's purchase of a Blytheville store which Burge was sent to manage. Burge eventually purchased the store from Heuer, and eventually expanded his business to the purchase of Day's Men's Store as well as Burge's Shoes.

Burge married Theresa Bell in 1987, adding her children to his own two sons, and eventually raising a family of many grandchildren and even a great grandchild.

Burge sold Day's in 2015 after 20 years in business, and has gone on to serve as a Justice of the Peace on the Mississippi County Quorum Court.

Burge has also served on school boards, city councils, and the Chamber of Commerce board, as well as serving with Blytheville Unlimited, the Mississippi County Electric Co-op Board of Directors, and the Arkansas Electric Co-op Board of Directors. He also serves on committees at Gosnell Baptist Church, where he teaches Sunday School and serves as an usher each Sunday.

sspears@blythevillecourier.com