Larry Burgess, longtime director of the Redlands' A.K. Smiley Library, announces retirement

REDLANDS - After promising a Sunday afternoon of surprises, A.K. Smiley Library Director Larry Burgess delivered a major one.

Burgess announced he was retiring from his long-time job to a stunned audience.

His last day will be Dec. 31.

Burgess began his career at the library in 1972, first as a archivist and later library director.

Burgess was named acting director in 1985 and was appointed by the library's Board of Trustees to the position permanently in 1986.

Burgess announced his retirement during the final program of his series honoring the 40th anniversary of the library's Heritage Room.

He gave visitors insight into the history of the library and the Heritage Room from its beginnings in an informative 45-minute presentation.

Burgess said he made the decision to retire last year, and turned in his formal notice to the board on Nov. 15.

Mayor Pete Aguilar and City Manager N. Enrique Martinez were notified last week.

William T. Hardy, president of the Board of Trustees, credited Burgess for his work in a news release announcing the news.

"For 27 years, he provided leadership and a remarkable ability for fundraising," Hardy said.

Burgess said he planned to announce his retirement at the last speech of the history series from the start.

"This is the way I wanted to go out - with this lecture," he said at a reception held in the library's garden after his presentation.

A successor has not been named.

During his speech, Burgess focused on the importance of history and why the Heritage Room has come into play for many looking for answers.

He said those who want to learn more about the architect of their home stop by the room on occasion.

Others look up family history or the history of the city itself, he said.

As he ended his talk, Burgess thanked his library staff, Nathan Gonzales and Don McCue who hold archivist positions in the library's Heritage Room, and his wife of 39 years, Char Burgess.

"We've never had a better library team ever in 40 years," he said.

As he turned off the mic Burgess nodded to the crowd, making eye contact with many, while mouthing "thank you" to a standing ovation.

"I'm gratified and stunned," Burgess said of the turnout. "It's a great tribute, really, to the 40 years of celebrating the Heritage Room."

While retiring as library director, Burgess isn't going anywhere.

He will continue working with the library in a director emeritus capacity to assist in fundraising and speaking on behalf of the library, he said.

It will be a volunteer position.

Burgess also kicked off his first fundraising effort, collecting $1 million to help advance the work of the Heritage Room and its archives by pitching in the first $50,000.

As he announced the donation to applause, Burgess joke that he knows who they are and will be calling to make lunch plans soon to ask for additional donations.

"Don't believe a speaker who says he's going to quit until he really does," he joked.

During his talk, Burgess held up a photo of himself in his 20s sitting alongside Redlands history enthusiast Edith Parker Hinckley and former University of Redlands Professor Larry E. Nelson, and credited the two for helping him succeed early on.

"Their message was, `Pass it on,"' he said, adding that he plans to continue with that mission in his newly appointed position.

"I think that would be the central message. The words above the (Redlands) Bowl are not just empty, hallow words - without vision, you really don't advance and it can perish, and then the idea no matter how good we are in economic times, there's always a need for people to help with quality, and to make our lives even better."


Contact Kristina via email, by phone at 909-259-9321, or on Twitter @TheFactsKris.

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