Burns, a wool specialist and University of Wyoming faculty member, attended the University of Wyoming from 1916-1920. He obtained his M.A. from Iowa State in 1921 and his Ph. D. in 1931 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He began teaching at the University of Wyoming in 1924 and later served as head of the Wool Department. From 1937-1939 Burns worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a wool shrinkage researcher and senior marketing specialist. In 1946 he was loaned to another college to participate in a mission in China to study carpet-wool. Dr. Burns in 1949 served as consultant to the Iranian government in New York. He had more than 30 publications on wool, ranching and University of Wyoming sports. He was also the founder of the annual old time ranch tour held in July of each year. Burns died in an automobile accident on June 14, 1973.
From the description of Robert H. Burns papers, 1910-1973. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 45811619
