Prosser sports legend Bruns, dead at 60

PROSSER — Buck Bruns, a former Prosser High School three-sport standout, died Tuesday at the family's Prosser home.

Bruns, 60, had long suffered from pancreatic illness and his death was related to that.

Born and raised in Prosser, Bruns starred in football, basketball and baseball for the Mustangs in the late 1960s. As a sophomore, he started at guard for Prosser's 1967 Class A state championship basketball squad.

Bruns went on to play quarterback for Yakima Valley Community College and later continued his gridiron career at the University of Idaho, where he was a defensive back for the Vandals.

He and his wife Pam's only child, Cody, was a record-setting wide receiver for Prosser and will begin his senior college season at the University of Washington this fall.

"He's Mr. Prosser, for sure. It's just tragic," said Mark Little, Prosser assistant football coach and former girls basketball coach. "He was just a very humble person and always real appreciative of all the coaches and all the chances Cody had.

"I never heard a negative word from him."

Said Prosser athletic director Casey Gant: "He's one of the best fans of high school sports I have ever been around. He was just a fantastic person."

Bruns returned to Prosser after graduating from Idaho and worked at the downtown clothier Golden Rule. After its closing, he continued to work in retail sales at JC Penney in Kennewick.

Bruns is survived by Pam and Cody, as well as a brother, Rod Bruns of Yakima, and sister, Vicky Allen of Pasco. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Prosser First Presbyterian Church.

This story was originally published July 14, 2011 at 10:26 AM with the headline "Prosser sports legend Bruns, dead at 60."