Burdette Eliele Haldorson

Burdie was born January 12, 1934 on a farm outside of Austin, Minnesota. At 17, he was recruited to and played for coach H.B. Lee at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He was a standout at CU leading the Buffaloes to a Big Seven title and a trip to the Final Four, averaging 23.9 points per game in his senior year. He was a first-team All-Big Seven and a first-team All-American while at CU.

Though selected in the fourth round/23rd overall pick by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1955 National Basketball Association draft, he preferred to remain an amateur and went on to win two gold medals playing for the United States in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and the 1960 Rome Olympics. Burdie was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame for his participation on the 1956 and 1960 team. In 2010, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 1960 Olympic Basketball original ‘Dream team’.

Burdie was a four-time National AAU All-American sandwiched around his Olympic team stints, as he had a brilliant career in the National Industrial Basketball League with the Phillips 66ers. Burdie was employed with Phillips 66 until 1972 when he moved to Colorado Springs and purchased a small service station chain, which became AB Petroleum. While in Denver playing for the 66ers, Burdie met his wife Kaye with whom he shared 64 years of love. Their family grew with the additions of Linda, Brian and Kari. Upon retiring, Burdie remained in Colorado Springs and with Kaye travelled, golfed, spent time with family and enjoyed second homes in Phoenix and Breckenridge.

Burdie continued to be honored throughout his lifetime for his athletic career, with inductions into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, Pac12 Hall of Fame and many others.

Known by all as a quiet and extraordinarily humble man, Burdie would share without hesitation, that his greatest ‘achievement’ was his family, whom he loved and cherished. Nothing made him happier than to be surrounded by Kaye, his family and friends. His lifetime of milk with every meal, ‘thumbs up’ endorsements and “wine time”, will long be remembered.

Burdie is survived by his wife Kaye, his children Linda (Bob) Van Hare, Brian (Karen) Haldorson and Kari (Tom) Craig, along with nine grandchildren- Kirsten, Taylor, Eric and Michael Van Hare, Marisa, Austin and Brooke Haldorson, Nicole (Clayton) Demirtas, Chase Conklin and one great grandchild- Karina Demirtas.

He is also survived by Carol (Keith) Eastman cousin and sister in life and nephews Eric, Scott and niece Kristin Eastman.

A Celebration of Life Open House is planned for Saturday, October 28 2023 from 1pm – 4pm in the rotunda of the Olympic Paralympic Training Center Visitors Center. The facility is at 1 Olympic Plaza in Colorado Springs, CO.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Burdie’s name to:

USA Basketball

usabfoundation.org/donate/

University of Colorado Sox Walseth Basketball Scholarship Fund

CUbuffclub.com/soxwalseth