BUFORD WILLIE GODDARD

Buford Willie Goddard was born on June 29, 1934, to Floyd Joseph Goddard and Jewell Gladys Clifton Goddard in the rear of their retail store in Jamesville, Stone County, Missouri. Buford passed away on September 23, 2024, in Raymore, Missouri.

The Goddard family moved from Jamesville to Nixa and then to Ozark, Missouri, where Buford attended Ozark High School. Buford was a member of the 1950 state championship basketball team, and he graduated in 1952.

Buford was drafted in the mid-fifties into the Army and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Fort Leonard Wood was where Buford began his basketball referee career that spanned over thirty years. He called local high school games, college games and eventually went to the Big 8 Conference in 1965.

The last game Buford refereed was the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina, ending a career of officiating over four hundred college basketball games. Buford was praised for his integrity and for having great relationships with the players and coaches.

Buford was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in the class of 2022, one of only twenty-one referees inducted. At a luncheon honoring Buford, The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Induction Booklet stated, "When he wasn't officiating basketball or umpiring baseball, Goddard worked full time as a sporting goods salesman for Lumpe-Virdon Sporting Goods, owned in part by Missouri Legend and Hall of Fame member Class of 1983, Bill Virdon. Goddard also spent time in the investment banking industry, working for Green Investments, a bank holding company."

Over the last thirty years of Buford's life, he resided in Las Vegas, Nevada, Grand Junction, Colorado, and Raymore, Missouri.

Buford is survived by his children, Jennifer Stracke (Ron) of Springfield, Missouri, Jacquelyn Wieseler (Dan) of Kansas City, Missouri, and Billy Goddard (Meribeth) of Gilbert, Arizona, seven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, his brother Doug Goddard (Cheryl) of, Springfield, Missouri, four nephews, Mark, Chris, Matthew, Brandon and their families.

No service will be conducted. Memorial donations may be given to Foxwood Spring Fellowship of John Foundation, PO Box 701, Raymore, Missouri 64083.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278