Phil H. Bucklew (2024) - Hall of Fame - Xavier University Athletics

Phil H. Bucklew

Induction:
2024
Class:
1936

Phil Bucklew lettered three years on the football team and two years on the basketball team for the Musketeers in the 1930s. He distinguished himself as a solid tackle, fullback and tight end on the football team, while also seeing some duties as a punter and kicker. Xavier finished 5-4 (1933), 6-2-1 (1934), and 6-3 (1935) during his time on the football squad. Bucklew, who was named an All-Ohio tackle in football, also saw action on the Xavier basketball team. Bucklew played center on basketball teams that went 9-1 (1933-34) and 14-4 (1934-35). The Musketeer Yearbook talks about Head Coach Clem Crowe using Bucklew "in a high scoring act from the center position."

Bucklew played for the Cleveland Rams in 1937 and 1938. He competed in 22 games for the Rams as an end. Later, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals for 1938. He was the founder and head coach of the Columbus Bullies in 1939 and led the team to three-straight championships (1939-41), including two AFL titles. Bucklew was nominated for the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary All-American football team in 1961.

Bucklew was a lieutenant in the Navy, and he earned two Navy Crosses for “extraordinary heroism” during the invasion of Normandy and the events in Sicily 1943. He is still known today as the Father of Naval Special Warfare.

After graduation, Bucklew was an assistant coach and graduate manager of athletics at Xavier. Following his service in World War II, Bucklew returned to Xavier and served as the head football coach and Athletic Director in 1946.

Bucklew, who was buried with Military Honors in Arlington National Cemetery in 1992, was the 2023 Recipient of the Charles P. Gallagher Leadership Medallion, presented posthumously by Colleen M. Hanycz, PhD, President of Xavier University, in recognition of exceptional leadership accomplishments of the highest distinction in their field or professional career. He is also in the City of Columbus Hall of Fame and the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.