M. C. Burton Jr. facts for kids
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Burton with the Michigan Wolverines, c. 1957
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 3, 1937 Blytheville, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Michigan (1956–1959) |
| NBA Draft | 1959 / Round: 11 / Pick: 75th overall |
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | |
| Pro career | 1960–1969 |
| Career history | |
| 1960–1962 | Holland Oilers |
| 1961–1962 | Battle Creek Warriors |
| 1962–1963 | Toledo Tartans |
| 1963–1965; 1966–1969 |
Grand Rapids Tackers |
Memie Clifton Burton Jr. (born September 3, 1937) is an American former basketball player and a medical doctor. He is famous for being the first player in the history of the Big Ten Conference to lead the league in both points and rebounds in the same year (1959). Even though he was a top basketball player, Burton chose to go to medical school instead of playing in the NBA. He became a doctor in 1963. In 1988, he was honored by being added to the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.
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A Star Athlete and Doctor
M. C. Burton Jr. was a talented athlete and a dedicated student. He showed that you can be great at sports and also achieve big goals in academics. His story is an example of following your dreams, even if they lead you down a different path than expected.
High School Basketball Hero
Burton grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. He played basketball for Muskegon Heights High School for three years, from 1953 to 1955. He became a school legend by scoring 1,141 points, which was a record at the time. In 1954, he led his team to win the state basketball championship.
In the championship game, Burton scored 22 points. His team won 43–41 against Flint Northern. This exciting game was played in front of nearly 12,000 fans. That year, Burton scored 35% of his team's total points. He was also chosen for the All-Tournament High School Basketball Team. This championship was a big win for his coach, Oscar Johnson, who had coached the school for 27 years. Burton was also a very smart student. He earned straight "A"s and graduated second in his class.
College Success at Michigan
After high school, more than 50 colleges offered Burton scholarships. He chose the University of Michigan because they offered him an academic scholarship. This scholarship also gave him the chance to attend medical school later.
Burton played as a forward for the Michigan Wolverines basketball team. In 1959, he was named to the first-team All-Big Ten team. He was also chosen as the Most Valuable Player for the Michigan team. That year, he scored 460 points and grabbed 379 rebounds. Both of these numbers broke Michigan's school records. His amazing performance in 1959 made him the first player ever to lead the Big Ten Conference in both scoring and rebounds in the same season.
Choosing Medicine Over Pro Basketball
After graduating from college, Burton made a big decision. He announced that he was not interested in playing in the NBA. Instead, he wanted to continue his studies at the University of Michigan Medical School. Even with his clear plans, the Detroit Pistons still picked him in the 1959 NBA draft. He was the 73rd player chosen.
The Pistons offered Burton $15,000 a year to play in the NBA. But Burton turned them down. He later explained that in 1959, the money from playing in the NBA was not as good as what a medical doctor could earn. He remembered that even the Pistons' general manager agreed. The manager said that a medical degree would be worth more to Burton in five years than a basketball career.
Playing Semi-Pro to Study
Even though he said no to the NBA, Burton still played some semi-pro basketball. This helped him earn money to pay for medical school. In the summer of 1959, he traveled with an All-Star team. They played games against the famous Harlem Globetrotters. During his first two years of medical school, he played on weekends for the Holland Oilers. This team was part of the Midwest Professional Basketball League. He also played for the Battle Creek Warriors in 1961 and the Toledo Tartans in 1962.
Burton finished medical school in 1963. He then started an internship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. To help with his income, he played for the Grand Rapids Tackers. This team was also in the Midwest Professional Basketball League. In 1964, Burton joined the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. While there, he was allowed to play the 1964–65 season for the Grand Rapids Tackers. This team was now part of the new North American Basketball League.
His Navy duties kept 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 and was third in scoring. For his amazing performance, he was chosen as the NABL's Most Valuable Player.
A Champion Doctor and Mentor
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 related health issues. He also helped families with infertility problems.
Today, Burton often gives talks at schools. He encourages students to have many different dreams, not just sports. He tells them: "Kids need more varied role models." He explains that buying expensive sports shoes might make kids think they will become pro athletes. Instead, he suggests they might buy cheaper shoes and two books. This is "just in case things don't work out" in sports. He reminds them that they can have "two dreams." He points out that fields like politics, education, science, and computers offer many exciting paths for young people.
Burton currently works at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the director of the ambulatory surgical center there. He also continues to practice medicine, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in Phoenix.
Personal Life
M. C. Burton Jr. has a brother named Ed. Ed also played basketball.
See also
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
