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Perry Burgess
Perry Burgess, LLD (1886-1962) was an American preacher and fundraiser known as a founding member and president of the Leonard Wood Memorial for the Eradication of Leprosy.
Born i...view morePerry Burgess, LLD (1886-1962) was an American preacher and fundraiser known as a founding member and president of the Leonard Wood Memorial for the Eradication of Leprosy.
Born in Joplin, Missouri, he became an ordained Methodist minister at age 17, soon after graduating from high school. He preached to support himself through college and graduated from Baker University in 1912. From 1917, he devoted himself to fundraising for various humanitarian Christian causes. His interest in leprosy began in 1925, when he met with Dorothy Paul Wade. Wade was looking to recruit a professional fundraiser on behalf of Major-General Leonard Wood, who wished to establish a research foundation for the study of leprosy.
From 1925-1930 Burgess raised a substantial sum of money for leprosy research on behalf of the organisation set up by Major-General Wood. It was renamed the Leonard Wood Memorial and incorporated (following Wood’s death in 1828), and Burgess became its first president. He retained this post until his retirement in 1958. In 1931 he played an important role in the organization of the Manila Leprosy Conference where the International Leprosy Association was born and plans were laid for the publication of the International Journal of Leprosy with financial support from the Memorial.
In 1940 he received the National Book Award for his first book Who Walk Alone, and a gold medal from the Society of Libraries of New York University. In 1956 he received the Damien-Dutton Award. Other honors received were Knight-Commander of the Hospital Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem and Hon. Knight Commander of the Spanish Civilian Order.
Burgess died in Unionville, Ohio in 1962.view less