Rolling Into Retirement: Celebrating Burnett Russell

Dickerson & Bowen, A Granite Company, is proud to celebrate the retirement of Burnett Russell after an extraordinary 65-year career in the asphalt industry. Throughout his decades of service, Burnett built a reputation as a dependable, hardworking professional whose experience, dedication, and positive attitude left a lasting impression on those who had the opportunity to work alongside him.

Superintendent Dean Lepard reflected on their decades-long working relationship. “Burnett has worked with me for probably 40 years. We have had the pleasure of working together at Dickerson & Bowen for about 12 years,” Dean shared. “He has always been a great team member and an exceptional person to work with. He was always on time, rarely missed work, and consistently brought a positive attitude to the job. I have always admired his dedication and everything he contributed to the team.”

Burnett became known throughout his career as one of the best roller operators in the business, but his experience extended far beyond a single piece of equipment. Michael Donovan, Superintendent, shared that Burnett operated nearly every type of equipment throughout his career and even served as a plant manager before joining Team D&B.
“We can all agree that Burnett was a staple for years,” Michael said. “He was as skilled a roller operator as you’d ever find.”

While Burnett earned respect for his expertise and work ethic, those who worked closely with him say his impact extended beyond the job itself.

Foreman Anthony Dinkins credits Burnett with helping him grow throughout his career. “My dad started working with Burnett when I was 12 years old, and they became close friends. When I was old enough, I had the opportunity to work alongside them as well,” Anthony said. “One day I asked Burnett if he would teach me how to run a roller, and without hesitation, he said, ‘Of course.’ He shared a tremendous amount of knowledge with me, both about the work and about approaching life the right way.”

Anthony also shared Burnett was someone many team members looked to for guidance and encouragement throughout the years. “Burnett was always willing to share advice and help others learn,” he said. “He taught me a lot, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. He worked hard, led by example, and had a positive influence on many of the people who had the chance to work with him.”

That impact speaks to the legacy Burnett leaves behind. Whether he was operating equipment, sharing his knowledge, or helping others develop their skills, he earned the respect of generations of coworkers through his consistency, professionalism, and willingness to support those around him.

As Burnett begins this well-earned retirement, he is looking forward to spending more time with his family, a fitting next chapter after dedicating more than six decades to the asphalt industry.

We congratulate Burnett on an incredible career and thank him for his many years of service, dedication, mentorship, and friendship. His influence can be seen not only in the projects he helped build but also in the many people whose careers he helped shape along the way. We wish him all the best as he enjoys this exciting new chapter of retirement.