Gerald Burton, 1960
Wichita High School East Class of 1960 had many fine basketball players who advanced to higher level competition. Gerald Burton, who was known as “Jerry” in high school, played for the Coffeyville Red Ravens. His fellow classmates at East High, Elmer Walker and James Jenkins, played for the Dodge City Conquistadors. These two teams met for a historic battle in the 1961–1962 season. The Region 6 finals were held in Hutchinson, Kansas and in the final game of that tournament, Dodge City was ahead of the Red Ravens by 12 points with only three minutes remaining. One can only imagine the ribbing going from Elmer and James to Gerald. But the game ended differently, with the Red Ravens scoring on a left-handed hook shot in the final seconds to win 59-58 and winning a berth to the National Tournament with their 28-0 win-loss record.
The Red Ravens not only went to the National Tournament, but they also won the 1962 National Tournament and ended the season with an amazing 32-0 win-loss record.
National Junior College Athletic Association Champions
During that 1961-1962 season, at a tournament in Miami, Oklahoma, Gerald Burton was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
The coach of the Coffeyville Red Ravens that season was Jack Hartman, who eventually found his way to Kansas State University and a basketball coaching career at KSU that lasted 16 seasons.
When Gerald Burton finished at Coffeyville Junior College, he did a three-year tour of duty in the Army, which welcomed his basketball court talent. He played on a team at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and also competed in a tournament on Okinawa. Soon after leaving the Army, Gerald was hired by the Federal Reserve system and enjoyed a 20-year career in Chicago working for the Federal Reserve. Life’s twists and turns were not over for Gerald. Next, he decided to enter the ministry and today still works primarily in counseling.
A big cheer to the Red Ravens and our own Gerald Burton for their National Championship in 1962!
Editor’s note: A tip of the hat to Barbara Hammond, Gerald (Jake) Jacobs and Pearline Blackmon Smith for their assistance in locating Gerald Burton and a special thank you to Jake Jacobs for working with Gerald Burton to put this story together.
East High’s 1960 Basketball team also won championships and avid support from the Blue Aces fans. At right, Coach Cy Sickles, Gerald Burton, and Steve Buxton admire the first place trophy their team won in the hotly competitive Dodge City Regional Tournament.
Gerald Burton and 5’4″ James Jenkins, both ’60, were named to the All-State Tournament team. They were known for fast offensive moves such as the one in the photo below. That’s Gerald Burton on the left and Elmer Walker blocking the opposition.
