Walter Matuszczak
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | February 5, 1918 Lowville, New York, U.S. |
| Died: | November 18, 2001 (aged 83) Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College: | Cornell |
| Position: | Quarterback |
| NFL draft: | 1941 / round: 10 / pick: 87 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Walter John Matuszczak later changed the spelling of his last name to Matuszak (February 5, 1918 – November 18, 2001)[1] was an American football player and veterinarian. Founder of DeWitt Animal Hospital in New York, he practiced there until 1971. Dr. Matuszak owned Wa-Noa Golf Club in East Syracuse, New York. A World War II veteran, Dr. Matuszak served as a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps.[2]
A native of Lowville, New York, son of a Polish immigrants- Kasper J. Matuszczak and Marianna; Matuszczak was the youngest of twelve children. He played college football for the Cornell Big Red football team and was selected by the New York Sun as the first-team quarterback on the 1939 College Football All-America Team.[3] He was named to the Second 1939 College Football All Polish-American Team.[4] He was also elected as the captain of Cornell's 1940 football team. He also played for Cornell's basketball and baseball teams.[5] He was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.[6]
Graduation from Cornell in 1941 - the same year he was selected by the New York Giants in the 10th round of the draft[7] - he entered the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated in 1943.[8]
He married Mildred C. Nohle on August 22, 1942; two daughters: Judith L. Hodhe, Diane J. Tsibulsky, two sons: W. David Matuszak, Charles Matuszak.
References
- ^ "Matuszczak Family Tree".
- ^ "In Memoriam".
- ^ "N.Y. Sun Picks All American". Modesto Bee And News-Herald. December 2, 1939.
- ^ Rosiak, A. J. (December 24, 1939). "In The Polish Colony". The Sunday Morning Star. p. 14. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ "Matuszczak '41 Elected 1940 Football Captain". The Cornell Daily Sun. November 27, 1939.
- ^ "Walter J. Matuszczak". Cornell University. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
- ^ "1941 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ "Watertown Daily Times | Matuszczak a part of Cornell's history". www.watertowndailytimes.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013.