Leo Burns, 98, dies
July 15, 2013,from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — Leo A. Burns, 98, died July 13, 2013, at Wabash General Hospital in Mt. Carmel, Ill.
Mr. Burns was born Feb. 21, 1915, in Tama, Iowa, to William Dowell and Dessee Westerfield. He was united in marriage June 12, 1946, in Missouri to Marjorie L. Mann, who died Sept. 22, 2003.
Mr. Burns was a Standardbred trainer and driver. In July 2012, he became the oldest known winning driver in the sport when he piloted his 8-year-old mare, Winsome Wyoming, to victory in the fifth race at the Wayne County Fair in Fairfield, Ill. USTA records show him with 254 career driving wins and earnings of $301,933.
He was a member of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, the USTA and the Albion Moose Lodge.
Mr. Burns is survived by his sons, Douglas Vavra (Carolyn) and Ed; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; three sisters; and two brothers.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday (July 17) at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion, Ill. A graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Friday (July 19) at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Marshalltown, Iowa.
- Leo Burns, 97, drives a winner at Illinois fair (Tuesday, July 10, 2012)
The amazing driving career of Leo Burns continued on Monday night at the Wayne County Fair in Fairfield, Ill.
- Leo Burns remembered at Edwards County Fair (Tuesday, July 23, 2013)
Leo Burns was a familiar horseman on the southern Illinois harness racing circuit for years, and he was remembered before the start of the 2013 harness racing program on Monday (July 22) at the Edwards County Fair in Albion.