A Huntingburg, Indiana native, Buddy was the first Major League baseball player from Dubois County. He was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Huntingburg High School, and ended his high school career with 12 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He went on to have a stellar career in college at Georgia Tech playing basketball and baseball for the Yellow Jackets. In 1957 and 1959 Buddy pitched Georgia Tech to the S.E.C. Championship. He played professionally in the Kansas City Royals organization until 1962 and had a brief major league stint.

After leaving baseball there was a brief period in sales before beginning a 29 year career with the Federal Government. He was an investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor. Buddy passed away at the early age of 56. He was married to the former Joyce (Lehmkuhler) Neukam who now resides in Henderson, Kentucky. There are three sons Doug, Greg, and Andrew.

In 1995 he was recognized by the Southridge Letterman’s Club (formerly Huntingburg) with a portrait permanently displayed in the Huntingburg Memorial Gymnasium.