Burleigh was born on October 27, 1934, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to Mr. Paul R. Wood and Mrs. Margret C. Wood. He moved to Hobbs, New Mexico the summer of 1941 and finished High School in 1952. Burleigh entered College at New Mexico A&M during the fall of 1952. He entered the U.S. Air Force pilot training program in November of 1955 and finished Pilot training in July of 1957. He was assigned to 1611th ATW-30th Squadron for the next 7 years made aircraft commander on the C-118 and attained the rank of Captain. He married Shirley Ann Gilmore on March 30, 1962. In July of 1964 he hired on with Pan American World Airways as a Pilot Engineer and attained Captain on the B-707 then Captain on the B-747. In 1986, Pan American sold its international routes to United Airlines and Burleigh was one of the Captains on the B-747. Later, he transferred to United where he finished out his career as an airline pilot. During this time, Burleigh was blessed with twin girls on July 23, 1963. Monica Leigh Wood and Marie Ann Wood, followed by a son, Burleigh B. Wood Jr., on December 26, 1967. He was blessed to have a career in which he and his family traveled the whole world. Burleigh was also blessed with only one grandson, Ryan Paul Wood, born on February 8, 2003. The only regret of his life, was the loss of one of his twin daughters, Marie, on June 15, 2008 to a massive heart attack. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 4100 Alpha Rd., Suite 100, Dallas, Texas, 75244 or 972-392-1181.