Marvin Duane "Ace" Burns (July 6, 1928 – June 24, 1990) was an American water polo player who competed for Fullerton Junior College, the University of Southern California and the Whittier Swim Club Polo Team, and played for the U.S. in both the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Education and water polo Burns was born in Santa Ana, California on July 6, 1928, and attended Fullerton High School. He swam and played water polo for the Fullerton Junior College Hornets where he was managed by Hall of Fame Coach James R. "Jimmy" Smith."Whittier Kings of Water Polo Eye Pan Games", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, 17 September 1950, pg. 65 He also played for the Whittier Swim Club Water Polo Team which won the National AAU Water Polo Championship in a 4–1 overtime match in August 1949, with Burns scoring a critical goal while playing Center Forward."Winners Pocket Title with 4-1 Victory", South Gate Daily Press-Tribune, South Gate, California, 15 August 1949, pg. 5 In 1947, while playing for Fullerton Junior College, Burns was named first string Center Forward on the All Southern California team, and scored 25 goals in the season.Daniel, John, The Press Box, Anaheim Bulletin, Anaheim, California, 4 December 1947, pg. 8"Sports Horizon", The Whittier News, Sports, Whittier, California, 24 December 1947, pg. 11 For the 1947–48, school year, he ran for Fullerton Junior College treasurer."Fullerton College Electing Officers", The Register, Santa Ana, California, 4 June 1947, pg. 6Burns also swam for Fullerton in "Bear Aquatic Team Nips Foe", The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, 9 March 1947, pg. 27
After Fullerton, Burns played water polo for the University of Southern California Trojans, where he was twice named an All-American. He graduated with a B.A. in 1952, and later completed a Doctorate in Dentistry in 1960."Obituary, Burns, Dr. Martin "Ace"", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, 27 June 1990, pg. 187
By 1950, Burns continued to play for the Whittier Swim Club polo team, which was at times referred to as the Whittier-Fullerton swim club and was coached by Heber Halloway.
Olympic competition Burns was a member of the American water polo team which finished fourth in the 1952 Olympics. He played five matches. Eight years later he finished seventh with the American team at the 1960 Olympics. Again he played five matches.
He competed as part of the American team at the 1951 and 1955 Pan American Games, that placed third in 1951 winning a bronze medal, and second in 1955, winning a silver medal.
He enjoyed the sport of bodysurfing and was a frequent age-group finalist in the Championships for World Bodysurfing. He later had a career as a dentist.
Burns died June 24, 1990 of cancer in Fullerton, California, where he had been a lifelong resident. He was survived by his wife, Jeremy and two daughters. Services were held at Fullerton's Emmanuel Episcopal Church."Newswire, Flutie Will Play", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, 26 June 1990, pg. 139
Honors In 1977, he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.
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