Buford Green

Buford M. Green, 84, a journalist for 50 years, died on March 9, 2025, at the Grove Health and Rehab.

Buford was born on September 13, 1941, in Milltown, Kentucky, the son of David and Annie Green. He is a graduate of both Virginia High School and Illinois College.

He is survived by son, Chris Green (Cheryl) of Arlington, VA and daughter Brenda Cunningham (Bob) of Springfield, Illinois. Grandchildren Elena Green (Cayde), Connor Cunningham (Maddie) and Michael Cunningham (Collette). Great grandchildren Josephine and Eleanor. Sister Wanda White, Clinton, WA. He is also survived by his niece and nephews, as well as numerous cousins in the Jacksonville area and Columbia, Kentucky. He is predeceased by his parents and brother, Murl Green.

He began his journalism career at the Jacksonville Journal-Courier while a student at Illinois College. He became sports editor of the Jacksonville Journal Courier in 1964, a post he held for 20 years, the longest period of any sports editor at the newspaper.

He became managing editor of the Journal-Courier in 1983 before resigning in 1991. He subsequently became editor of the Showcase newspaper in Jacksonville and later was a sports/general assignment writer, for the State-Journal Register in Springfield, Illinois before retiring in 2007. He was also a contributing writer for the Jacksonville Source newspaper.

In his 50 years as a journalist, he wrote more than 20,000 by-lined articles for the various publications. He was a member of the Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Association and Jacksonville High School Sports halls of fame. He was a founding member of the Jacksonville High School and Illinois College sports halls of fame as well as the Jacksonville Area Hall of Fame, where he served as president for many years. He was a co-host of the Sportsline call-in show on WLDS radio for 56 years.

During his career as sports editor, he was able to cover major sporting events including baseball's World Series, the Super Bowl, Indianapolis 500, heavyweight championship fights involving Ken Norton and numerous high school state tournaments. He was a long-time baseball and softball player and manager and coached youth baseball and softball teams, and umpired baseball for many years.He also taught at Triopia Junior High School and Routt High School. He was a long-time member of AMBUCS, The Elks Club and The Masonic Lodge.

Buford will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Williamson Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will meet friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Jacksonville High School Sports Hall of Fame or the Illinois College Sports Hall of Fame. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.