Great Burns

Bob Burns had the sort of life that few people seem to live anymore.

Champion boxer. Star quarterback. War hero. Coaching legend. Idea man.

He parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day, lured the Minnesota Vikings to South Dakota for their first-ever NFL game and, as a hard-driving football coach, lifted high school and college programs to unprecedented heights.

The Great Burns, by longtime South Dakota journalist Stu Whitney, is a journey in itself. It captures the essence of Burns' desire to win, whether courting his future wife in college, fighting off German attacks at the Battle of the Bulge or earning the lifelong loyalty of his players with memorable triumphs.

It's a story that will resonate with readers who are hungry for American heroes, especially those who inspire others by making them believe in themselves.