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BIOGRAPHY Dr. Edgar
Wills Burnett
By. Ruby Butler Edgar Wills Burnett was born in Ladonia, Fannin
County, Texas, October 17, 1871, where his father operated a paper. After
becoming a Dallas printer as a youth, he attended the old Carlton College in
Bonham. He won his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in
St. Louis, Mo. He had three years internship there and went to Duncanville to
practice; from there he moved to Carrollton.
Dr. Burnett practiced medicine in Carrollton for 26 years. During
this time he and his estimable wife Emma were active in the business, social and
church work of the community. In Carrollton, he also served as surgeon for the
MKT, Cotton Belt and Frisco Railroads.
He was a member of the Dallas County Medical Society, the Texas State
Medical Association and the American Medical Association for more than 50 years.
He was one of the first members of the Dallas Southern Clinical Society and was
a Scottish Rite Mason. Dr. Burnett was an active member of the Carrollton First
Christian Church, and in the affairs of Texas Christian University.
In December 1929, Dr. Burnett was appointed to the staff of the State
Hospital for Insane at Rusk, Texas, but he did not accept the appointment until
January 1930. He served 18 years, but after he had been superintendent of
the hospital for three years, he resigned and returned to Dallas to do special
work in that field of medicine. During all this time he retained his interest in
Carrollton and called it his home. His stately old home still stands on
the corner of Belt Line and Clint Streets. The Veterans Administration
employed Dr. Burnett as a psychologist and neurologist for the remaining two
years before his final retirement.
Iris Van Cleave remembers as a child, she lived across the street from Dr.
and Mrs. Burnett. One time she climed up on the windmill. Dr. Burnett saw her,
went in his house and called Mr. Rhoton (Iris's father) on the phone and told
him to call her down gently, as she might fall. Iris said her father came out
and said "Dear, don't you think you better come down ?. She was surprised,
as she knew her father wouldn't approve of her climbing and otherwise might have
shipped her. The rhotons had a well and supplied a number of near-by
families with water at this time.
Dr. Burnett delivered many babies in the area. At least one baby was named
for him, Burnett (Doc) Perry.
Dr. Burnett spent the remaining years in Carrollton. He died October 3,
1951 in a Dallas hospital at age 79. His wife, Emma died Dec. 25, 1952. Both are
buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Dallas. Dr. Burnett was survived by his brother,
Dr. Tom R. Burnett of Mission, Texas.
Elm Fork Echoes - April 1978 |
Carrollton-Farmers
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