Meet Mike Burgamy! Mike is a Captain and Region Supervisor with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in Gainesville and will be retiring in August, after 35 years in law enforcement!

“I’ve been with the DNR since February of 1994, so I’ve been a law enforcement officer for 35 years,” he said. “I am married, my wife is Carmen and we’ve got two boys; Mike Jr, 35 years old and Tyler, will be turning 30 soon. We have three grandchildren and a fourth grandchild on the way.”

We want to thank Mike for spending time with us recently and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.

Please tell us a little bit about you, your family and your history in DNR.

A: “We moved here when I was a little boy, so I was raised in Hall County. I graduated from Johnson High School. I went into the military for four years and after I got out, went to work for the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. I worked there from 1988 to 1994, I left there and I went to DNR.”

Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?

A: “I am a big outdoors enthusiastic. I love hunting, fishing, camping or anything outdoor. When the opportunity came for me to go to the game and fish, it was a no brainer. I have absolutely loved my job here, I love this agency and I say that in past tense because I’m going to retire in August.”

Q: What is a day like working in DNR?

A: “It depends on the season or time of the year. Summer time you can expect that we’re out there enforcing Georgia’s boat safety laws…during the winter time it’s geared more towards hunting…”

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in Hall County?

A: “Probably Atlanta Highway Seafood Market.”

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?

A: “For the most part, I would probably say it’s the people. I love that we still have Southern hospitality here, we have folks that still care about each other and even though things are growing by leaps and bounds in Hall County, you still have that good ole home type atmosphere.”

Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater? What is your favorite movie?

A: Probably one of my most favorite movies is the ‘Passion of Christ.’”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: “Skydiving.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

A: “Maybe Italy, my wife and I have always been fascinated about the culture there. We’d like to try a ride on a gondola.”

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?

A: “Probably The Collegiate Grill.”

Q: What are you going to do when you retire?

A: “My wife’s answer is we’re going to travel. I’ve bought an early retirement present; a travel trailer, and it’s really nice. We’re going to make a trip out West then the East Coast; that’s on the very near future to-do list.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?

A: “Probably Phil Niekro. I used to run into him all the time, he is just so personable. When our boys were growing up, I coached baseball, and I ran into him one day and we talked and another time he signed some baseballs for my boys.”

Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

A: “I like to play the guitar in my spare time and I also actually lead worship at church.”