BURL HENDERSON
Football, 1922-25
Inducted September 22, 1979

Burl “Bud” Henderson was a four-year Bruin grid stalwart under Coach Briggs from 1922 to 1925.  A native of Monett, Burl followed his brother Efton to SMS.  The younger Henderson was a regular at end of the 1922 SMS team which went undefeated at 7-0 and claimed the state championship.  SMS repeated the state title in 1923 in a 7-2 campaign with Henderson again at end and his junior year he played both quarterback and end, gaining all-league selection at the latter position in the first year of existence of the modern MIAA conference.  The Bears slipped to a 1-6-1 record in ’24 but rebounded to a 4-2-2 season in 1925 with Henderson as the SMS captain.  He was again an all-conference selection at end as the Bears tied Northwest Missouri 3-3 in the deciding game of the season, giving the league title to the Bearcats.