He was a bomber navigator in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, served on active duty again during the Korean War, and attained the rank of Major in the Air Force Reserve.

[5] A Republican, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the nomination for Vermont Attorney General in 1962, losing to Charles E. Gibson Jr.[6] He was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1964, and reelected in 1966 and 1968; he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee before serving as Speaker.

[9] He lost the 1974 Republican primary for Vermont's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to Jim Jeffords.

[10][11] After leaving office Burgess continued to practice law and maintained his participation in Brattleboro's local government and civic activities.

[12] He died in Keene, New Hampshire on September 20, 2007, and was buried in Brattleboro's Meeting House Hill Cemetery.