Burl Berry (1993) - Hall of Fame

Burl Berry

Induction:
1993
Class:
1932

In 1932, Burl Berry, a native of Wellman, Iowa, was voted a small college football All-American. Berry attended Iowa State Teachers College from 1928-32. He put his mark on future generations by winning a contest naming the school mascot and colors.

He excelled in football, holding many of the school's rushing records. Following his senior year, he won the Berg Trophy for Most Valuable Player. He was asked to try out for the Green Bay Packers, but due to injury, he was unable to take the field. Berry also participated in track. Coach Art Dickinson called him the "best 220-yard-dash man" he had ever coached. He qualified for the Olympic Trials, but once again, he was plagued by injury.

Upon graduation, he coached at several schools in Iowa, including Grinnell College and Iowa State, where he coached the first racially integrated Big Eight Conference track team. He received the Fullbright Lectureship Grant from the U.S. State Department in 1959 and took a year's leave of absence from ISU to teach physical education at the University of Tehran. While in Iran, Berry served as an adviser to the States and was employed by the Des Moines Public School System until he retired. He passed away in 1986.