Hall of Fame
Buffington finished an outstanding career at Hannibal High School and embarked on another fantastic career with the Bulldogs in 1975. He started at offensive guard each of his four seasons with the 'Dogs from 1975-78. After Buffington's freshman season, he added 15 pounds of muscle to an already sturdy frame. This added strength played a key role in his improved play over the next three seasons. Buffington played an important role in the Bulldogs' conference championship season of 1976. He won first-team all-MIAA recognition that year, as well as in his final two years, making him one of only 17 Bulldogs to ever capture the honor three or more times. Buffington's leadership abilities through his first three seasons, earned him the honor of being named a captain his senior year. His outstanding play that campaign helped Buffington garner honorable mention Associated Press Little All-America honors, while paving the way for running back Mike Harris, the NCAA Division II rushing leader that year with 1,598 yards. During Buffington's first three seasons, he was also a driving force for running back Steve Powell, who ranks fourth in career rushing at Truman with 3,643 yards. Buffington was named to Truman's All-Century Football Team this fall, touted as the one of the best offensive guards to play for the Bulldogs during the last 100 years. Buffington graduated from Truman with a bachelor's degree in physical education and a minor in math, and began a 13-year teaching career. He spent five years in Savannah, Mo., and eight in Hannibal as an Algebra instructor. Buffington dabbled in iron working between teaching jobs, and for the last six years has made that his main profession. This past summer, he moved to Milwaukee, Wis., where he is the foreman on the tension tie cables crew for Danny's Construction Co., on the Miller Park Project, the new stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. His wife, Lisa, is also a graduate of Truman and has been a teacher for the past 21 years. She is currently employed by Nativity Jesuit Middle School, a private school in inner-city Milwaukee for Latino boys. They have a daughter, Heather, who is 21 years-old and a senior at Southwest Missouri State University, while their son, Benjamin, is 19 and a freshman at ITT technical school in St. Louis.
