Howard C. Burgess was born March 23, 1893, in Columbus, Kansas to F. Fremont and Sarah Kelsey Burgess. He came west with his family in 1899 and spent time in Pendleton prior to moving to Hardman, Oregon in 1900. He attended public schools in Oregon and Washington. The family later moved to Pullman, Washington, where he graduated high school. He graduated from Washington State College (later called Washington State University) in 1916 with a degree in general agriculture. He was high point man on the livestock judging team that won the Pacific Coast Conference.

From 1917 to 1919 he served in the U.S. Cavalry Remount Service, stationed at Fort Keogh, Miles City, Montana. His duties there included breaking and training horses. Burgess married Pearl Morrison on April 26, 1919, in Pullman. She died February 12, 1973. He went to Palouse, Washington, in 1920 to assist his father on the family farm. He began a career as a county extension agent, serving at Kelso, Washington and in Madison County, Montana, before coming to Walla Walla in 1930. He served as county agent until his retirement in 1958.

Burgess than began work at Baker-Boyer Bank as agricultural representative. He was involved in many community activities, including serving on the board of the Southeastern Washington Fair for many years. He was active in judging horses and livestock, and volunteered with the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce, state and county historical associations, the Boy Scouts, and the Marcus Whitman Foundation. He also wrote extensively for historical publications, wrote a book, Running Bird, published in 1968, and wrote poetry. Burgess died March 17, 1984.