Burt L. Risley

RISLEY, BURT L. (1919 ~ 1992). The following is a biography of Burt L. Risley provided by a family member:

"Burt L. Risley was born November 26, 1919 in San Antonio, Texas. His parents were Clyde Henry Risley and Alice Dillon Risley of Asherton, Texas. He finished high school in Asherton where he was reared.

He later went to the University of Texas after serving in the U. S. Air Corp during WWII. He also attended the University of Colorado and the University of Houston but returned to the University of Texas in Austin to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration.

He was appointed by Governor Price Daniel as Executive Director for the Commission for the Blind of Texas. The program in Texas was built literally from the ground floor up during his tenure. His accomplishments are legendary in the field of rehabilitation. The Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center was opened in 1971 in Austin. The American Academy of Ophthalmology honored Burt by naming 'the Burt L. Risley Fund for Clinical Education in Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery.'

As they say in the letter, 'Mr. Risley richly deserves the honor bestowed for his life of service to the visually impaired in Texas. He died June 19, 1992 at the age of 72 and was buried in the Texas State Cemetery on June 24, 1992. He was legally blind for many years but had become totally blind before his death.'"

Further information available through the Texas State Cemetery research department.