Jim Burleson

Jim Burleson is a retired New Mexico lawman having served over 25 years in a variety of capacities. He’s been a patrolman, detective, supervisor, state academy administrator and police chief, capping his career as cabinet secretary of the New Mexico State Corrections Department.

After retiring, Jim was selected as executive director of the New Mexico Sheriffs and Police Association. Like Dave, he is a graduate of New Mexico State University but majored in Police Science (BS). He is pictured with the rifle that “Won the West”, a Winchester 1873, one of the models Sheriff Pete carried. There will certainly be more heard about Pete Burleson and Jim hopes you enjoy your introduction to him. Gracias y Adios.

Five years ago this journey began with a rudimentary tree built by my brother Dave followed by a phone call to BFRG. JD answered. He posted my potential great great grandmother Emaline Bathsheba Weatherman Burleson. Immediately JD posted Emaline’s photo and drove to the Thomasville Orphanage to verify records of my dad’s and uncle’s stay there. He didn’t know me from Adam. Success at the orphanage but none on the photo post. Aggressively, JD repeated the post. Second try scored a cousin (Annette ’Swag’ Rowland)  who  recognized  the image with the name of the owner of the image, a fellow descendant of Emaline (Debbie Wise Denton). She took my DNA results to the moon and back. Debbie found the identities of seven of Emaline’s children including my great grandfather Asa. My dad Ned lost his father, Hobert when he was only four. After generations of owning only questions- now answers were flowing freely. Now I had cousins…cousins who really enjoyed helping cousins. I fell in love with genealogy that special time five years ago.