Bruce Burch, the country music songwriter and Gainesville native who passed away in March after a battle with Leukemia, was saluted by state lawmakers.
Rep. Lee Hawkins, R-Gainesville, sponsored the measure, H.R. 1080, in honor of his "childhood friend."
"His unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness and kindness made this world a better place," Hawkins said in a press release.
Burch wrote songs for some of the biggest names in country music like Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, George Jones and T. Graham Brown.
"Bruce Burch was one of the sweetest, most talented people I've ever known. He was a pillar of the Nashville songwriting community and one of my best friends," Brown wrote on Twitter at the time of Burch's passing.
The resolution was also a recognition of Burch's charity work. Notably, working alongside the John Jarrad Foundation, Burch helped start Gainesville's annual songwriter concert. Burch had attended school and was friends with Jarrard, who died in 2001. The money generated from the events went to local nonprofits like the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County and Good News Clinics.
Burch was instrumental in starting the music business program at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. He would go on to create a similar program at Kennesaw State University.
"[He was] a compassionate and generous man, Bruce will long be remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing him," the resolution stated.
