M. C. Burton Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
M.C. Burton Jr.
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Burton in 1957
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| Born | September 3, 1937 |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Bachelor of Science, 1959, Doctor of Medicine, 1963 |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Medical doctor |
| Years active | 1963 – present |
| Known for | First basketball player to lead the Big Ten Conference in both points and rebounds, 1959 North American Basketball League Most Valuable Player, 1967–68 |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Title | Dr. |
Memie Clifton "M.C." Burton Jr. was born on September 3, 1937, in Blytheville, Arkansas. He is a retired American basketball player and a medical doctor. In 1959, he made history in the Big Ten Conference. He was the first player ever to lead the conference in both points and rebounds in the same year. Burton chose to go to medical school instead of playing in the NBA. He earned his medical degree in 1963. In 1988, he was honored by being added to the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.
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High School Basketball Star
M.C. Burton Jr. grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. He played basketball for Muskegon Heights High School for three years, from 1953 to 1955. During his time there, he set new school records. He scored a total of 1,141 points.
In 1954, Burton led his team to win the state basketball championship. He scored 22 points in the final game. His team won 43–41 against Flint Northern. This exciting game was watched by 11,835 fans. Burton scored 423 points in 1954. This was 35% of all the points his team scored that season. He was also chosen for the All-Tournament High School Basketball Team. This championship was the first for his coach, Oscar Johnson.
Burton was also a very good student. He earned straight "A"s. He graduated second in his class from Muskegon Heights High School.
Playing for Michigan
More than 50 colleges offered scholarships to M.C. Burton. He chose the University of Michigan. Michigan offered him a special academic scholarship. This scholarship also gave him the chance to attend medical school.
Burton played as a forward for the Michigan Wolverines basketball team. In 1959, he was picked for the first-team All-Big Ten team. He was also named the Most Valuable Player for the Michigan team. That year, he scored 460 points. He also grabbed 379 rebounds. Both of these numbers broke Michigan's school records. His 1959 achievements made him the first player ever to lead the Big Ten Conference in both scoring and rebounds in the same year.
Choosing Medicine Over Pro Basketball
After college, Burton announced he did not want to play in the NBA. He wanted to continue his studies at the University of Michigan Medical School. Even though he said this, the Detroit Pistons still chose him in the 1959 NBA draft. He was the 73rd player picked.
The Pistons offered Burton $15,000 a year to play in the NBA. But Burton said no. He later explained that in 1959, playing in the NBA did not pay as much as a career as a doctor. He remembered that even the Pistons' general manager agreed. The manager said a medical degree would be worth more to him in a few years than a basketball career.
Playing While Studying
Even though he turned down the NBA, Burton did play semi-pro basketball. This helped him pay for medical school. In the summer of 1959, he played with an All-Star team. They played games against the famous Harlem Globetrotters.
During his first two years of medical school, he played basketball on weekends. He played for the Holland Oilers in the Midwest Professional Basketball League. He also played for the Battle Creek Warriors in 1961. In 1962, he played for the Toledo Tartans.
Burton finished medical school in 1963. He then started an internship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He continued to play basketball to earn extra money. He played for the Grand Rapids Tackers in the same league. In 1964, Burton joined the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. The Navy allowed him to play for the Grand Rapids Tackers during the 1964–65 season. This was in the new North American Basketball League (NABL).
Burton's Navy duties stopped him from playing in the 1965–66 season. But he returned to the Tackers from 1966 to 1969. In the 1967–68 season, he led the Tackers to win the NABL championship. He also led the league in rebounds. He was third in scoring. That year, he was chosen as the NABL's Most Valuable Player.
A Doctor's Career
After the 1968–69 NABL season, Burton stopped playing semi-pro basketball. He opened his own medical practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He specialized in helping women with pregnancy, childbirth, and other health needs. He also helped couples who had trouble having children.
Today, Burton gives talks at schools. He tells students not to focus only on sports. He wants them to have many different dreams. He says: "Kids need more varied role models. ... Everybody goes out and buys a $180 pair of Reeboks and thinks that is what is going to happen to them. Instead, maybe they should buy the old $30 pair of tennis shoes and two books by Hemingway or someone else just in case things don't work out. You can have two dreams. Politics, education, the science fields, the computer age is here – there are so many dreams that these kids can have."
Burton now works at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the director of the surgery center there. He also still has a practice in Phoenix where he helps women with their health.
See also
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
