James Benner Burns ’50

Jim Burns of Falls Church, Va., an intelligence analyst with the CIA, died of lung cancer Mar. 9, 1996, at the Hospice Center of Northern Virginia. He was 69.

He served on a submarine with the Navy in the Pacific during WWII. While at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School he spent a year traveling across the country opening new chapters of the United World Federalists on college and university campuses.

After joining the CIA he served in Burma, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Turkey, and L.A. He was awarded the Intelligence Star after departing Saigon in 1975. He retired in 1961 but continued to serve under contract in several countries until his death.

Jim was involved in community theater in northern Virginia, and for over 30 years he wrote lyrics and scores for the Hexagon Club's annual revues in Washington, D.C. He coauthored the book and wrote the music for The Shy Girl, which was produced by the Little Theatre of Alexandria in 1963. After retirement he volunteered many hours in schools in DC and Fairfax.

He is survived by his wife, Avery Lynn, their two sons, Douglas W. and Christopher M. He is also survived by his first wife, Beverly Ebert Runs, and their three sons, J. Kevin '74, Jeffrey E. '76, and Jonathan B. The class extends its deep sympathy to all of his family.

The Class of 1950