He led two groups that helped revitalize downtown Columbus. Burnie Quick dies
Burnie Quick, former leader of two organizations that helped revitalize downtown Columbus, has died.
He was 82.
Quick died Tuesday at his home in Columbus while receiving hospice care, James Decker, one of Quick’s neighbors, told the Ledger-Enquirer.
“He had complications, leukemia, from exposure to Agent Orange,” Decker said. “He’s been in hospice at home for several weeks now.”
Quick was president of Uptown Columbus from 1994-2003 and president of the Columbus Business Improvement District from 1999-2009.
In 2014, Quick was inducted into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor at the junior college campus of Marion Military Institute. He graduated from the institute and served 28 years in the U.S. Army.
Commissioned as second lieutenant in 1963, Quick served two tours in Vietnam (1966-1967 and 1969-1970) as a rifle company commander of the 25th Infantry Division and the 1st Infantry Division.
For his actions in combat, Quick was awarded the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star with V Device.
Quick commanded the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and served as chief of staff at Fort Benning before retiring as a colonel in 1994.
“He was a civic-minded person,” Decker said. “He will be missed.”
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson was a Columbus Councilor when Quick led the effort to establish the Business Improvement District in 1999.
“I remember working with Bernie very closely and how committed he was trying to make sure that the BID performed as it was supposed to, and that’s to provide a safe, clean and marketable environment,” Henderson told the Ledger-Enquirer. He did a lot of work to try to get that BID passed.”
Quick is a prime example of someone who served his country and his community well, Henderson said.
“We are fortunate to retain a lot of the military personnel that retire or leave the Army,” Henderson said. “He took that military mindedness into his organizations, his commitment to finishing the mission. And I think the things that he did in the Uptown area, they are his legacy.”
The funeral arrangements, according to Quick’s obituary, comprise:
- Memorial service April 16,, from 11 a.m. to noon, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1130 First Ave., in Columbus
- Followed by visitation in the church
- Then inurnment from 1:30-2 p.m. at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, 553 Alabama Highway 165.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 4:55 PM.
