A Man Called Buck

Slowly, surely, Buck began expanding the vision of his boys. He demanded near perfect performances of their dances which brought in fees to pay the expenses of their shows. The fees paid for the food for the boys and gasoline for the fathers' cars on trips to nearby towns and finally to Colorado Springs and Denver. There lay more of the opportunity Buck had always sought for his boys -- the museums, the art galleries, the ice hockey games, the symphony orchestras, the YMCA swimming pools, and on and on. His program was truly the complete education of the boy. He taught his boys to be responsible, self-reliant, well-rounded, well-mannered men. From the fundamental basis of "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country..." he taught an appreciation of the art, music, crafts, and literature of all cultures. He provided a vital outlet for the exuberance of youth; he showed us

a better way. We who followed his tutelage danced away our adolescent frustrations and found a path we could walk happily, not just as youth, but for the rest of our lives. Buck showed us the rewards of investing ourselves in something greater than ourselves -- just as he had.

Few of the articles and books about Buck Burshears have explored the inner person. Most have praised his vision, his dedication and the achievements of his boys. But what is the essence of his greatness? A few years of intense effort can be explained by human preserverance, but an entire lifetime of service must have a greater source of strength. We, who have had this man not only touch our lives but redirect and mold them into something far greater than we would have otherwise known, have lived in the presence of a spirituality which comes only from a deep and abiding faith. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Complete faith in those words becomes a sustaining power of a magnitude that we of lesser faith may not understand. The sustained lifetime of loving service of Buck Burshears is clear evidence of his true spirituality. He has lived his faith; he has lived by his faith, and he has moved mountains.

As Sunday arrived on the trips with his boys, Buck would make arrangements to assure that he and all of the Catholic boys would go to Mass. Without fail, he met his obligations and commitments. His faith is so integral a part of his life that we don't realize what we see. We have walked a portion of our lives with the burning bush and never realized he was aflame. But God knew, and has wrought His wonders through this man who has steadfastly manifested his faith in his works.