Fred Burnhardt
After graduating with a degree in Interior Design, I worked for ten years in Birmingham in residential and commercial design. During that time I met and married Jeanette Comer in 1964. Two years later we had a son, Kevin Karl, who lives in Concord, New Hampshire with his wife and two children. We enjoy Jack, 8, and Julia, 4, when we are able to get up there. We plan to make more frequent visits after we retire at the end of this year. Jeanette will retire from The State University of West Georgia and I from Hospice Care, an affiliate of Tanner Health System in Carrollton, Georgia where I have been the Volunteer Coordinator--recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers who work with our patients or in the office.
Between my designing career and hospice career I earned teacher certification from Clemson University while Jeanette taught nursing there. After moving to Carrollton I earned a Masters in Early Childhood Education from West Georgia College, now The State University of West Georgia. I taught school for thirteen years in Carroll County, then sold real estate until I joined Hospice Care. I have had a variety of jobs which have been enjoyable, so work never got boring. When it did, I changed careers.
Phi Gam Days--While at Auburn I was a charter member of Alpha Upsilon, chairman of the first Pig Dinner and "big brother" to three fine brothers: Mac Butler, Bill Lardent, and Bobby Wiggins. I remember the chapter was so poor that Dr. Hauser (Purple Legionnaire) had to pay for a box of cigars for the brothers and guests. The Pig Dinner was held at the only motel in town, The Heart of Auburn Motel, which was very nice and only a few years old.
While living in Clemson I was a chapter advisor for Chi Alpha, a new chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, for about two years.
