Background
Burns, B. Thomas was born on January 10, 1936 in East St. Louis, Illinois, United States. Son of Thomas Stephen Burns and Anita Margarette (Sale) Piot.
Burns, B. Thomas was born on January 10, 1936 in East St. Louis, Illinois, United States. Son of Thomas Stephen Burns and Anita Margarette (Sale) Piot.
Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism, University Illinois, 1957. Master of Business Administration, University Chicago, 1974. Postgraduate, Harvard University, 1980.
News director Station WSDR Radio, Sterling, Illinois, 1957. News editor Station World's Largest Store Radio, Chicago, 1958. Marketing writer ITT, 1959-1961.
Public relations manager GTE, Northlake, Illinois, 1961-1969. President, general manager Station WEFM Radio, Michigan City, Indiana, since 1969. President, general manager Station WLLT Radio, Sterling-Rock Falls-Dixon, Illinois, since 1989.
Principal, general manager Station WDKR Radio, Decatur, Illinois, 1989-2002. Consultant Station WDKR, WXFM Radio and others, Mount Zion, Illinois, since 1984. Associate professor Valparaiso University College Business, Indiana, 1974-1977.
Indiana director National Association FM Broadcasters, 1972-1973. Board directors Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visiting Bureau, Polo, Illinois, since 1993, Michigan City Main St. Association, Indiana, 1992-1996, Sterling Main St. Association, Illinois, since 2003. Board directors Downtowns of Illinois Associated, since 1996, vice president, 1997-1998, president 1999-2001.
President Northwest Illinois Master of Business Administration Roundtable, Sterling, 1997-1999. Active Downtown Economic Development Committee, Decatur, 1997. Board directors Decatur Small Business Council, 1986-1987.
Committee member Sterling Sister City, since 1995, Dixon Sister City, since 2003, Decatur Sister City, since 2004. Member University Chicago Management Roundtable, Mount Zion C. of Chamber (board directors 1987-1988), Rock Falls C. of Chamber (board directors 1996-2002, since 2005, vice chairman 2006, chairman 2007), Rotary.
Married Mary Ellen Christgau, December 29, 1957. Children: Anna Lee Burns Fine, Jeannine Charlotte Burns Dvorak.