Harry Burrus Explained

Harry Burrus
Position:Halfback
Birth Date:6 April 1921
Birth Place:Slaton, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:195
High School:Big Spring (TX)
College:Hardin–Simmons
Draftyear:1942
Draftround:6
Draftpick:50
(by the Chicago Bears)[1]
Pastteams:
Pfr:BurrHa20

Harry Clifton Burrus Jr. (April 6, 1921  - September 20, 2004) was an American football halfback.

Burrus was born in Texas in 1921 and attended Big Spring High School in Big Spring, Texas, graduating in 1937. He played college football at Hardin–Simmons, graduating in 1941. While at Hardin-Simmons, he was selected as a Little All-American.[2]

During World War II, he served in the Army Air Force, attained the rank of captain, and played on the Randolph Field Ramblers football team.[2]

He played professional football in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the New York Yankees in 1946 and 1947 and for the Chicago Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948. He appeared in 38 professional football games, nine of them as a starter, and tallied 28 receptions for 670 yards and four touchdowns.[3]

In 1949, he was hired by Washington University in St. Louis as an assistant professor of physical education and assistant football coach.[4] He became athletic director at Washington University in 1958. He left Washington University in 1966 for a post at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa.[5] He served as the tennis coach at Parsons.

He died in 2004 in Winter Haven, Florida.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1942 Chicago Bears . databaseFootball.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20070829211544/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=CHI&yr=1942&lg=nfl . July 5, 2020. 2007-08-29 .
  2. News: Harry Burrus Signs With Pro Grid Club. Lubbock Morning Avalanche. January 22, 1946. 8. Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Harry Burrus Stats. Sports Reference LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. February 29, 2020.
  4. News: Harry Burrus Gets Post At University. Lubbock Evening Journal. May 6, 1949. 10. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Harry Burrus to Leave W.U.. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Harry Tuthill. April 7, 1966. 6D. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Former Coach Dies. The Des Moines Register. September 26, 2004. 10C. Newspapers.com.