Richard Louis Burge

BURGE, RICHARD LOUIS, farmer, potato and fertilizer dealer, and manager of potato marketing commission; b. 13 June 1898 in Five Houses, son of Michael Burge and Catherine Flynn; m. 2 March 1924 Theresa Whitty, and they had 7 children: Dr. Francis "Frank," Alban, Dr. Irene, Claire, Bernadette, Marie, and Michael; a niece, Noreen Whitman, became a member of the family in 1947 when her mother died; Roman Catholic; d. 26 June 1990 in Souris. Burge, a Conservative, was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1947 for 2nd Kings, He was defeated in the general elections of 1935, 1939, 1943, and 1951. "Lou" or "R. L." Burge resided in Five Houses, east of St. Peters Bay, and was educated locally. Burge was interested in furthering his education, but was needed on the family farm as all his brothers had left the area. As a result, Burge read widely in an effort to educate himself while farming. He bred Holstein cattle and was a dairy producer. Later Burge became a potato and fertilizer dealer, under the name of R L. Burge Produce. Burge was president of the Canadian Horticultural Council and a founding board member of the Prince Edward Island Elite Seed Farm. He also served as the general manager and chairman of the board of the Prince Edward Island Potato Marketing Board. In 1992, he was given, posthumously, an award honouring his dedication to the agriculture industry in the province. R L. Burge died 26 June 1990 at Colville Manor in Souris. Theresa Burge was born on 2 February 1900 and was the daughter of Peter Whitty and Mary-Anne Power of Charlottetown. She died on 7 January 1964.