Leslie Charles Bruckner April 16, 1918 – September 21, 2014

Les Bruckner was born in 1918 in Monroe, Michigan, Football and family were the cornerstones of his life.

He played football at Michigan State University, and later received a Master Degree from the University of Michigan. He was a lieutenant in the United States Navy, and after the war he played one season in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals. In 2014, he became the oldest surviving player from the Chicago-St. Louis-Arizona Cardinals NFL franchise. He moved to Burbank in 1949 with his wife and two sons. He was a history teacher, as well as a football coach for a number of seasons, at Burbank High School. He was the founder of the Bulldog Club Day camp, and later the Les Bruckner Swim School, in the 50’s. Les was a successful football official, and founded the San Fernando Valley Football Officials Association.

He also went on to be an official in the Pacific Eight Conference, and was also an official in the short-lived World Football League in 1974. In 2012, the Pac 12 Officials Association inducted Les into their Field of Honor, in a ceremony in Palo Alto.