George E.Burnham was born in Lake Elsinore, California in 1914 and passed away in Monrovia, California at the age of 94 in 2008. George was interested in rocks and minerals at the age of nine, he collected "pretty rocks" out on his fathers farm with his aunt in Lake Elsinore. As he grew older he took some geology courses in college and his interest soon turned into a passion. He later moved to Monrovia, California with his wife Mildred, and with help of his brother Wayne Burnham together they started Burminco (Burnham Mineral Company) in 1946. At first George traveled by land, and air searching for high end mineral specimens all over the world. George has collected all over Europe, Africa, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Later he was asked by many teachers and professors if he could supply high quality rock and mineral sample kits. After that George not only collected high end minerals but textbook quality rock samples; Burminco now has over 600 varieties of rocks and minerals. Before George passed away Lailani Leyden a geology student and Anthony Arreola were running Burminco for a little over 5 years. George personaly wanted them to continue Burminco and he made sure they did. After George past away Lailani and Anthony bought Burminco and continued it just the way George wanted it, they are still in the same location in Monrovia, California.