David A. Burleson, whose family came into what is now Alabama in 1808, was born in 1950. He is the Son of Forrest Emory and Mary Nell Ballew Burleson. He came by his love of history honestly having a Father who was steeped in the subject and having been reared up in the family home built in 1841.
He graduated from Auburn University in 1975 with a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics. He recently retired after a 43-year career in banking and real estate. Some aspect of history has occupied his free time most of his life.
In 1981 he was a co-founder of the Burleson Family Association whose purpose is to assemble, distribute and preserve genealogical material relating to the Burleson Family.
He was one of the founders of the Hartselle Historical Society. in 1987 he and his wife, Anne, acquired the old family home “Westview” and embarked on a two-year restoration project. In 1995 he, Anne and another couple purchased the long-abandoned L & N Freight Depot in Hartselle and remodeled it into an antique market. He worked with the Hartselle Historical Society in acquiring the abandoned F E Burleson Elementary School building in Hartselle and the conversion of it into a community center. He worked with the Alabama Historical Commission in securing designation on the National Register of Historic Places for the Hartselle Downtown Commercial Historic District. in 2017 a resolution passed both houses of the Alabama State Legislature that named him the Official Town Historian for the city of Hartselle.
Below is a book on Westview, David A Burleson’s Family home, it is a full-color book (Coffee Table Type) showing the history of his Burleson Family and also packed full of color pictures of farm equipment, home furniture, and paintings. I believe everyone would enjoy this book if you are interested in Burleson Heritage and History.