Archie Myrl Buckley

Archie Myrl Buckley was born on July 16, 1906 in Colville, Washington to Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Buckley. He graduated from Colville High School, where he excelled at sports and was known as an outstanding prep star in the Inland Empire. 

Buckley attended Washington State College (WSC) from 1926 through 1930, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education on June 2, 1930. During his WSC athletic career, Buckley earned nine letters, three each in football, where he played quarterback and place kicker; basketball, where he was a forward; and baseball, where he shone as a third baseman. Because of his small stature (he stood 5'8"), he was known as "Little Archie Buckley." Howerver, his exploits in his athletic endeavors were legendary n WSC lore for years after he graduated.  He was known as a leader on each team he played, and he recevied the J. Fred Bohler Award in 1929 for being the most inspirational athlete. In addition to his participation in athletics, Buckley was a prominent fixture in campus activities.  He served on the athletic council and board of control, was president of his class, and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.  Following his graduation from WSC, Buckley went to work as a coach at Centralia High School for a year, before settling in as a football and baseball coach at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington. He married Mary Maude Hungate on December 27, 1930 in Centralia, and they had two children, James and Betty. 

Buckley received a commission as a lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy, reporting first to Chapel Hill in North Carolina followed by Navy pre-flight school at St. Mary's, California, where he was charged with overseeing the physical conditioning of the Navy's pilots in training. Following the closure of the pre-flight school, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Saratoga for duty at sea. In February 1945, the ship was assigned to provide fighter cover while remaining carriers launched strikes on Japan. On February 21, 1945, six Japanese planes attacked the Saratoga, leaving 123 crew members dead or missing. Buckley had time to reach safety, but he stopped to warn a pilot in a plane of the approaching Japanese attack and died in the subsequent bombing of the ship. He was initially declared missing in action until June, 1945, at which time his death was officially recorded as occurring on February 21, 1945. 

Buckley is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial within the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. He posthumously received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. North Central High School in Spokane established an Inspirational Award in his name, and in 1984 he was inducted into Washington State University's Athletic Hall of Fame.  Following his death, Buckley was honored throughout eastern Washington as a coach who touched the lives of numerous athletes.