University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Kenneth W. Burton 1964 - Football, Track and Field
One of the top running backs in the history of Vermont football and a 1977 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Ken Burton was an elusive halfback who was one of the best in New England in the early 60s. He was named to the All-Yankee Conference, All-New England and All-East teams in 1963. He remains the first and only Catamount football player to have his jersey number retired.
Burton gained 690 yards his senior year, an average of 6.8 yards per carry. He also added six TDs in leading UVM to a 6-2-0 mark, one of its top seasons ever.
For three seasons at Vermont, he gained 1,386 yards at an average of 4.7 yards per carry and scored 15 TDs. All were career marks at the time at UVM only to be surpassed by two more recent backs who are also in the Hall of Fame, 1966 All-American Bob Mitchell and 1970 All-East performer Bob Rodger.
The holder of virtually every major rushing record at UVM at one point, Burton was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1963. The Waterbury, Vt.-native also received both the Riley Trophy (1963) and the Semans Trophy (1964). Following the 1963 season, when he earned every honor possible, Burton was named Vermont's Outstanding Collegiate Football Player.
Besides football, Burton was a top track performer, holding the school's discus record (134'1/2") set in 1964 and was a member of the mile relay team that set a new UVM record of 3:37.5 the same season. However, most of his recognition came because of his exploits on the gridiron, with the 1963 season his best. Burton's football jersey (#12) was retired the spring of his senior year.
