KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Former West Virginia economic development official Tom Burns died Sunday at his home in Knoxville, Tenn., after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 80.

Burns came to West Virginia in 1983 as vice president of C&P Telephone and was later named president and CEO of C&P of West Virginia. He was instrumental in the creation of the West Virginia Business Roundtable, which he ultimately headed for several years, and the National Institute for Chemical Studies.

He and his wife, former West Virginia Human Services Commissioner Sharon Lord, moved to New Zealand in 1990 when Burns was named to head up Ameritech and Bell Atlantic of New Zealand Ltd.

In 1995 Burns returned to West Virginia to serve under Gov. Gaston Caperton and Gov. Cecil Underwood as state director of economic development.  He was involved in attracting numerous industries to West Virginia, including the Toyota plant in Putnam County, and more than doubling West Virginia's job growth in four years.

He retired in 1999 and since then he and Lord have lived in their homes in New Zealand, Virginia Beach and Knoxville.

In addition to his wife, Burns is survived by two sons and two granddaughters.

Burns was born in Hyndman, Pa., and graduated from Virginia Tech.

Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Zeigler Funeral Home in Hyndman, Pa. A memorial service will be held later in Charleston.

Burns came to West Virginia in 1983 as vice president of C&P Telephone and was later named president and CEO of C&P of West Virginia. He was instrumental in the creation of the West Virginia Business Roundtable, which he ultimately headed for several years, and the National Institute for Chemical Studies.

He and his wife, former West Virginia Human Services Commissioner Sharon Lord, moved to New Zealand in 1990 when Burns was named to head up Ameritech and Bell Atlantic of New Zealand Ltd.

In 1995 Burns returned to West Virginia to serve under Gov. Gaston Caperton and Gov. Cecil Underwood as state director of economic development.  He was involved in attracting numerous industries to West Virginia, including the Toyota plant in Putnam County, and more than doubling West Virginia's job growth in four years.

He retired in 1999 and since then he and Lord have lived in their homes in New Zealand, Virginia Beach and Knoxville.

In addition to his wife, Burns is survived by two sons and two granddaughters.

Burns was born in Hyndman, Pa., and graduated from Virginia Tech.

Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Zeigler Funeral Home in Hyndman, Pa. A memorial service will be held later in Charleston.