University of Mount Union Athletics

Harold Richard “Little Buck” Burkle was born and raised in Columbiana, Ohio, the third of the Burkle boys to attend Mount Union.  He played center, guard, and some forward on the men's basketball team from 1926 thru 1929 and was team captain from 1926-28. His center and full-court shots won numerous last second games leading to Ohio Conference Championships in 1927-28-29.  He was an All-Ohio selection in 1929. He also played 1st base for the baseball team and also particpated on the track and field and tennis teams.  His basketball career extended to fraternity ranks with the Sigma Nu Serpents where he was voted “Most Valuable Player” and recognized as “Highest Scorer” on his way to being named to the Judges All-Tournament Team during wins at the 1927-28-29 Tri- State Amateur Basketball Tournaments in East Liverpool, Ohio.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929 and joined Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where basketball also continued as he played with the “Double Eagles” and Goodyear “Regulars” and softball with the intramural team from 1929 - 1935. He was a member of Joppa Masonic Lodge Basketball Champions in 1938, and a member of the 1940 Goodyear Baseball Champions.  He was posthumously inducted into the “M Club” Basketball Hall of Fame in 1967.