By Patricia Hudson
Anyone that lives in the Bridgeland community knows that if you are seeking information about an upcoming event, issue, or legal procedure, one only needs to contact Kay Burkhalter. A Bridgeland resident since 2010, Kay believes in creating an involved and informed community of citizens. “Given that Bridgeland was brand-new, I wanted to be instrumental in helping establish values that make a successful community,” explains the community activist and leader.
Kay was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1948. Her father, a chemistry professor, moved the family from Denton, College Station, and finally to Richardson, Texas, where he started the research lab for Texas Instruments. An additional move to Attleboro, Massachusetts found Kay graduating high school before heading to Oklahoma University, where she studied for one year. She moved to Houston in 1968, and in 1971, earned a Bachelor of Political Science degree from Rice University.
In 1974, Kay graduated from the University of Houston Law School, with a Doctor of Jurisprudence, then joined the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor. She was a 1978 graduate of the National College of District Attorneys. Kay has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an attorney.
“I was the first woman prosecutor in Harris County to try a murder case, the first woman Chief of a Felony District Court, and the first woman prosecutor to try a Capital Murder Case in Texas,” comments Burkhalter proudly. Kay has continued to actively pursue her law career in private practice from 1984 to the present. She claims that she is “mostly retired these days.”
Kay has been married to Wil Armstrong for 34 years. Sheba, an only cat, loves being the center of Kay’s attention. The couple moved to Cypress in 2010. “The beautiful park, hiking trails, and lakes and homes attracted us to Bridgeland,” recalls Kay.
“My first active involvement was when the developer wanted to put an apartment complex in the middle of Lakeland Heights in Bridgeland; we were able to block that action and the complex was moved elsewhere. Advocating for the freedom to fly an American Flag on a standing pole in a back yard, was prohibited by the developer and HOA. We got state legislature involved and a law was passed to allow this freedom. I ran for the Lakeland Village HOA Board, and served for 6.5 years, from 2013-2019, and advocated for the residents. During my tenure, we removed and modified some restrictive HOA rules, provided greater transparency through videotaping of meetings, and balanced the budget. These were significant achievements,” recounts Burkhalter. She was twice nominated by the Houston Community Management Association for Volunteer of the Year during this time.
Kay’s involvement is far-reaching, and includes:
- Current Co-Chair of the Informed Citizens @ Bridgeland (Provides forums for all political candidates to speak, classes about tax exemptions, Obama Care, updates on HOA business, & updates about recent legislative law. Holds candidate debates for Lakeland Village HOA and for WCID and MUD elections).
- Co-President Bridgeland Garden Club (Meets monthly with expert speakers and tours)
- Founding Member and Officer, Cypress Hot Talkers Toastmasters Club
- Early Voting Election Clerk for MUD # 419, WCID #157, and MUD #489 April and May elections. (Locates election volunteers and ensures that applicable law is followed)
- Section Leader for Allen Shores, Lakeland Village (Meet and greet new neighbors, establish a list of all residents, plan NTO, social events, coordinate needed repairs)
- Founding Board member of The Bridgeland Community Supports Veterans, Inc. (Holds Annual Memorial Day Ceremony, Veterans Day Festival, and Fun Run for Your Hero; raises money to build a Veterans Memorial in Bridgeland and funds to support veterans in need in the community)
- Farmer’s Market @ Bridgeland (Volunteers monthly in helping to maintain the original Farmer’s Market)
“Kay can get people to volunteer for something they didn’t know they wanted to do,” comments Walt Bohn, Bridgeland Community Supports Veterans, Inc. Board member.
“I’ve worked with Kay on the community sponsored Farmer’s Market and the Bridgeland Garden Club. Because of her limitless energy and contagious enthusiasm, she is a genuine leader and an effective community advocate,” states Nancy Hanson, Founding member of Farmer’s Market and Garden Club member.
While Kay’s busy schedule leaves little time for relaxation, she somehow works in time for traveling, gardening, walking, exercising, and “enjoying a glass of fine wine with my husband.”
