Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Tom Burton came to Lenoir-Rhyne during the height of what, arguably, is the greatest stretch of Bears basketball in the school's history.   A native of High Point, N.C., Burton entered Lenoir-Rhyne as a freshman in the fall of 1959 along with teammate Jerry Wells and helped continue the Bears' winning ways into the early 1960s.  Burton was a three-year captain and an All-Carolinas Conference and All-District 26 honoree.  Burton finished his solid career by averaging 14.9 points a game and shooting 56% from the field.  The 1960-61 team went 23-7 on the year while the 1962-63 squad posted a 26-5 mark overall, a 15-3 league mark and won both the league regular season and tournament championships.  The '63 team also set the school record for wins in a season while Burton was named league tournament MVP.  Burton was also on the Dean's List each of his four years at Lenoir-Rhyne and served as president of his senior class.  In 1963, Burton was chosen as the Best All-Around in the senior class and was named to the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.  After graduating, Burton was on active duty with the National Guard for a year before entering the business world with DeHart Motor Lines.  Burton also worked for Carolina Container Company.