[1][2] He attended Flint Northern High School in his hometown,[1] where he was a member of the football and track and field teams.
[1] Burton was released by the 49ers on account of his size and subsequently joined the Toronto Argonauts for one season.
[2][12] He then signed with the New York Titans and made his AFL debut with the franchise on September 11, 1960, at the age of 25, in a 27–3 win against the Buffalo Bills.
[2][12] He elected to stay in the town after the league folded and worked for many years with Meijer until retiring in 2000.
[17][18] Burton's first marriage was to Ellen Marie Collins, who he met in high school, and together they had four children.