The Middle Georgia State University (MGA) Foundation has awarded Malcolm Burgess, chairman of Burgess Pigment Company, the Legacy of Leadership award for 2021, while Marvin Riggins, retired chief of the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department, was named Outstanding Alumnus.  The awards were presented at the University President’s Gala on the evening of November 5.

Burgess is chairman of his family’s kaolin business that his father founded in Sandersville in 1948. He is a longtime supporter of Middle Georgia State University. A few years ago he established a scholarship to help MGA students with financial need majoring in health sciences, business, or the arts. More recently, he made a major gift to help fund the construction of the Peyton T. Anderson Enrollment Center on the Macon Campus.

A Macon native and military veteran who graduated from the University of North Carolina, Burgess also supports numerous other organizations and institutions, including the Community Foundation, Georgia College, Museum of Arts and Sciences, Stratford Academy, Children’s Hospital, and Wesleyan College.

Riggins, who graduated from what is now Middle Georgia State in 1998, retired from the fire department in 2020 after more than 40 years of service. He rose through the ranks from private to become chief. Riggins received numerous awards throughout his career, including:

·         “Firefighter of the Year” three times, “Paramedic of the Year” once, and recipient of the Macon Optimist Community Service Award.

·         The 2009 Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs President Award 2016 Georgia Fire Chief of the Year, and Georgia Fire Chief’s Designation Certification.

·         The 2017 Special Presidential Award from the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, and International Association of Fire Chief’s Career Fire Chief of The Year.

The Legacy of Leadership Award recognizes an individual, persons or group who have given exemplary service to the University and the Foundation. The Legacy of Leadership Award is the highest honor the MGA Foundation bestows.

The MGA Foundation established the Outstanding Alumnus Award to recognize graduates who have distinguished themselves academically, professionally, or through community involvement and achieved positions of influence and regional or national reputation.