Hal L. Burnett, list industry pioneer, died Sunday, May 2. He was 74. Burnett began his career in the list business in 1960, representing Compiler’s Plus, National Business Lists and his brother, Ed Burnett’s business file. Shortly thereafter, he joined National Business Lists and headed up the firm’s Detroit office until NBL’s sale to, then independent Market Data Retrieval in late 1984.
In May 1985, together with his wife Shirley, daughter Julie and son Mark, Burnett founded Burnett Direct Inc., a full-service list brokerage and direct marketing consultantcy now located in Farmington Hills, MI. At the time of his death, Burnett was semi-retired but remained a consultant to the business.
Burnett was a World War II veteran and a founding member of the Direct Marketing Association of Detroit, serving on its board of directors for nearly 15 years.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Julie; son, Mark; brother, Ed Burnett; and three grandchildren.
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