Charles E. Burford

Charles E. Burford, founder of Burford Corp., died May 16, 2013 in Dallas Texas. He was 81 years old. He is survived by his 3 children: Daughter Lisa Fullington and husband Dr. Richard Fullington, Daughter Beth Langford and husband Britt Langford, and their children daughter Brynn and son Brooks, and one Son Charles Burford II and wife Erica and their daughter Amanda. A native of Lindsay, Okla., Mr. Burford grew up on a farm and went straight to work for his father after graduating from high school. His father invented an automatic wire tying hay baler. It was this invention that ultimately led to the creation of the twist tie machine. The twist tie offered consumers the advantage of being able to reseal bread packages. For bakers, the advantage was efficiency. Mr. Burford, along with his father Earl, founded Burford Corp. in Maysville, OK in 1961. The company began with the invention of the Burford twist tie machine that helped revolutionize how bread and other baked foods are packaged. In the years since, Charles was instrumental in the development of a wide range of specialty equipment that helps bakers operate more efficiently. The company holds many patents for its innovations. Mr. Burford’s inventiveness extended beyond the baking industry. During the 1970s he developed a downstroke baler for the supermarket and dime store industry. The size of a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer, the device compacts cardboard boxes into a bale, wires them and loads the bale onto a dolly. He also invented a new packaging approach for growers of citrus fruits. Mr. Burford was named to the 2010 class of the Baking Hall of Fame and also received the BEMA Lifetime Achievement Award in March of 2008. Through his lifetime he was an avid Safari Hunter. Until his death he was an active member in many conservation and hunting organizations. He was a Star Farmer with the Future Farmers of America and also recently received an Honorary FFA Degree with the Maysville FFA. Services will be held Tuesday, May 21 at 2 p.m. at Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. There will also be a memorial service Wednesday, May 22 at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Maysville, Oklahoma.