(Football 1956-58, Basketball 1956-57, Baseball 1956-59)
Max
Burleson was one of the most versatile athletes in the Lions'
athletic history. He earned NAIA All-American honors in football as
a sophomore in 1956 and was an accomplished passer who played both
quarterback and halfback. He lettered three years in football in
1956, 1957 and 1959 and twice each in baseball and basketball. An
All-State T quarterback at Hackleburg (Ala.) High School, Burleson
rushed for 296 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 168 yards and
two scores as a junior in 1957.
He was named to the 50th
Anniversary UNA Football Team for 1949-98. He spent 1958 in the
Birmingham Barons professional baseball organization and returned to
Florence State to play football in 1959. He completed 40 of 70 pass
attempts for 563 yards and four touchdowns as a senior in 1959,
while rushing for 306 yards. He played professional baseball again,
signing with the Detroit Tigers organization and playing in Idaho
Falls, Montgomery and Birmingham before beginning a coaching career
in 1960. Burleson became one of the most successful high school
coaches in the state of Alabama at Huntsville's J.O. Johnson and Lee
high schools.
He began his coaching career at Lauderdale County High
School in 1960 and in 1963 he became assistant football and head
baseball coach at Lee High School, where he stayed until 1972. He
then became the first head football coach at Johnson High School and
compiled a 52-19-2 record before retiring in 1980. He returned a
year later as head baseball coach at Lee and became head football
coach in 1982. Burleson died from a heart attack in 1984.
