Glenn A. Burklund

Glenn A. Burklund.
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Fairfax
In office January 10, 1962 – January 7, 1964
Preceded by	Dorothy S. McDiarmid
Succeeded by	Dorothy S. McDiarmid
Personal details
Born	June 27, 1924 Waco, Texas, U.S.
Died	October 5, 1998 , U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Margaret Orosz
Alma mater	University of Illinois
Religion	Lutheran)

Glenn Arthur Burklund (June 27, 1924 – October 5, 1998) was an American inventor and Republican politician who served one term in the Virginia General Assembly representing Fairfax County, Virginia in the 28th House District.^[1]

Early and family life

Born in Paxton, Illinois, Burklund attended the University of Illinois and studied engineering but never received a degree. He served in the U.S. Navy, where he honed his mechanical abilities, such that after discharge he was able to set up his own research laboratory and sell it.^[2] He married Margaret Orosz (1926-)

Career

Burklund received several patents for inventions, five involving textiles. He moved to Northern Virginia and worked for an electronics firm. He was also active as a gunsmith, in the National Rifle Association, the Fairfax County Gun Club, and in the local Republican Party. Burklund ran once for elective office, and was elected in 1961 to the part-time position of state Delegate. He became one of several delegates representing Fairfax County, polling fewer votes than Democrats John C. Webb and Hobart K. McDowell Jr. but edging out Democrat Dorothy Shoemaker McDiarmid.^[3]

However, Burklund became embroiled in at least two controversies, and the party withdrew its support by the 1963 primary. The first controversy involved his request that the Fairfax library censor three films screened during national library week, particularly one which he thought failed to acknowledge controversy concerning evolution (the local American Legion commander objected to the other two as communistic).^[4] Also that July, Burklund led a Fairfax County based faction opposed to the Arlington County Republican faction of Jack Corbet for chairman of its 10th district committee, which led to a brawl.^[5] McDiarmid was thus again elected to represent District 28.

Death

Burklund retired to Axton, Virginia. He died in 1998 and is buried in the Scarce Family cemetery in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.^[6]

References

1. "Session 1963: Burklund, Glenn A.". state.va.us. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
2. Peter Randolph Hamlin, A Case Study of the Fairfax, Virginia Censorship Controversy, 1963 (University of Illinois, Champaign, 1969) (occasional paper no. 95 at p. 7)
3. "Glenn A. Burklund (R)". virginia.gov. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
4. Hamlin, pp. 8-12
5. Frank Atkinson, The Dynamic Dominion: Realignment and the rise of Two Party Competition in Virginia (Rowman & Littlefield 2008) at p. 136
6. "Scarce Family Cemetery". findagrave.com. Retrieved 28 November 2016.