Clarkson University Honors Burns with Lifetime Engagement Award
Robert R. Burns ’59, MS’71, MS'76, PhD’77 of Potsdam, N.Y., has received the Lifetime Engagement Award from his alma mater, Clarkson University.
The award is presented to alumni who have remained engaged and supportive of Clarkson’s mission since their graduation. Awardees must have received their degree at least 50 years ago.
Burns received his bachelor of science in civil engineering in 1959, master of science in industrial engineering in 1971, master of science in engineering science in 1976 and PhD in engineering science in 1977, all from Clarkson. While at Clarkson, Burns was a Chi Epsilon honor society member, president of Theta Chi fraternity, and a cadet officer in the ROTC.
Commissioned following his first graduation, Burns served two years in the Army before starting an engineering career with the New York State Department of Transportation in 1961. He returned to the North Country in 1964 to supervise construction projects at SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam in excess of $100 million. In 1985 he became the administrator and engineer for the Village of Potsdam, working until his retirement in 1996.
Burns has a long history of involvement with the Potsdam community. He is a past member of the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Board, past village trustee and member of other village boards, past North Country Savings Bank chairman, and past president of the Bayside Cemetery Association Trustees.
Burns remains an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam, having served as secretary, president, and chair of a district committee. After retirement, he also volunteered as the supervisor for extensive renovations of a community playground and the construction of a used bookstore for the Potsdam Library.
Throughout his distinguished professional and philanthropic career, Burns has received multiple awards, including being named a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and recipient of Rotary’s Service Above Self Award. He also received the SUNY Potsdam President’s Award for Community Service and the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Commitment to the Community Award
The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce awarded Burns and his wife, Ellen, a Citation for Community Beautification for their restoration of the Clarkson-Knowles Cottage, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Burns also has a rich history with his alma mater, serving on multiple committees, marshaling the Clarkson Centennial Parade in 1996, serving on the Alumni Council, and acting as a reunion chair and reunion-giving co-chair for the class of 1959. He was also a recipient of the 2005 Gordon C. “Stub” Baker ’27 Chapter Service Citation and the 2009 Golden Knight Award. He is also a loyal donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild.
Robert and Ellen Burns reside in their historic home in Potsdam. He is proud of his Clarkson heritage and grandson, Tom Burns ’12, granddaughter Cassie Grace ’15, and grandson-in-law John Coleman ’15. Burns’ brothers, Richard Burns ’54 and David Burns ’53, were also Clarkson graduates.
