:W. P. Astle

{{Short description|American football player, coach, and official (1902–1983)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = W. P. Astle

| image = Buck Astle Emporia State.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Castle at a reception for Homer Woodson Hargiss

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1902|7|27}}

| birth_place = Newton, Kansas, U.S.{{cite web|url=http://www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img=113971230|publisher=Emporia Gazette|accessdate=December 30, 2011|title=W. P. Astle Will Be Top Official in Orange Bowl Game|date=December 15, 1960}}

| death_date = December 1983 (aged 81)

| death_place = Newton, Kansas, U.S.

| player_years1 =

| player_team1 =

| player_positions =

| coach_years1 = 1937–1939

| coach_team1 = McPherson

| overall_record = 9–15–3

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

William Pierce "Buck" Astle (July 27, 1902 – December 1983) was an American football player, coach and official.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OTNdAAAAIBAJ&pg=4286,2591371&dq=astle+and+mcpherson+and+coach&hl=en|publisher=Lawrence Journal-World|accessdate=December 30, 2011|date=February 26, 1940|title=Buck Astle to Resign}}

Playing career

Astle played multiple sports at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He has been inducted into the "Athletic Hall of Honor" at the school in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.emporia.edu/athletics/hallofhonornames.htm|publisher=Emporia State University|title=ESU Athletics Hall of Honor|accessdate=December 30, 2011}} At Emporia, he played under coach Homer Woodson Hargiss.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19781018&id=G2JQAAAAIBAJ&pg=4221,854108|publisher=The Evening Independent|date=October 18, 1978|accessdate=December 30, 2011|title=Football Innovator dies at 91}}

Coaching career

Astle was the head football coach at McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas, serving for three seasons, from 1937 to 1939, and compiling a record of 9–15–3.{{Cite web|url=http://www.macbulldogs.com/custompages/Media%20Guides/2010%20McPherson%20College%20Football%20Media%20Guide%20(web).pdf|title=McPherson College Football Media Guide 2010|publisher=McPherson College Athletics|accessdate=10 November 2010}}

Officiating

After coaching, Astle continued to work as an official in multiple games, including the 1951 Central Missouri State vs. Southwestern football game{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/166318789|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Football's Man of the Year|last=McDermott|first=William F|date=December 9, 1951|page=H10|access-date=October 3, 2013}} and the 1961 Orange Bowl.