Vote for Ron

I got an email from my younger brother this morning with a plea for my vote. Since my brother is not the mass-email type, I was touched by his message: one of his greatest influences and personal heroes, Ron Burton, is up for induction into the New England Patriots' Hall of Fame. This year, fans get a say in whether or not this player gets in. So, I thought that I would also ask the 7 people who read my blog to throw your support Ron’s way.

Here is my bro’s message:

The New England Patriots have announced their three finalists for this years Patriots Hall of Fame, Ron Burton, Ben Coates and Stanley Morgan. While all three are worthy of your vote, only one can be selected, and while some of you may have no knowledge of any of these players, and possibly no affinity for football, only Ron Burton stands out for his work off the football field.

I was extremely fortunate to attend his summer camp for 5 years between the ages of 13 and 17, in Hubbardston, Mass; the Ron Burton Training Village. It is primarily a football camp, but we participated in all sports while also running 7 miles a day, partaking in an obstacle course, reading time twice daily, rotating kitchen responsibilities, attending weekly mass, and computer classes and SAT prep classes were also offered. Basically it taught us skills on and off the field.

Ron's message was simple; Humility, Patient, Peace and Love. It was spoken and practiced every day of the 5 week summer camp, and no one set a better example than Ron himself. He ran the camp with love and patience, along with his childhood friend, his wife, and their 5 children, and the campers were not allowed to fight, swear or tease each other.

Ron was the first player ever drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1959 American Football League Draft. He passed away on Sept. 13 from bone cancer. He was 67. The camp is still going, run primarily by his sons.

Below I have included a blurb from wikipedia as well, please visit The Patriots Web site and cast your vote for Ron, an amazing player and role model, and one of the most amazing and influential people I have ever met in my life.

Thank you all so much


From Wikipedia: Ronald E. "Ron" Burton (July 25, 1936 - September 13, 2003) became a college All-American running back at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, a member of the Northwestern Hall of Fame, and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Burton was the Boston Patriots' first-ever American Football League draft choice in 1960. He was the first Patriot to rush for over 100 yards: 127 against the Denver Broncos on 23 October 1960. His 91-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal in 1962 remains a Patriot record. He compiled 1,009 combined yards in rushing and receiving in 1962, and provided strong depth at running back for the Patriots from 1960 through 1965.

After leaving professional football, this former child of poverty became an eminently successful motivational speaker who then made a major financial and emotional gift to needy children. In Massachusetts, he donated land for and established the Ron Burton Training Village, which holds free summer camps for disadvantaged inner-city youths.

In 2003, Burton died from bone cancer