Walter Matuszczak Explained

Walter Matuszczak
Position:Quarterback
Birth Date:5 February 1918
Birth Place:Lowville, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Syracuse, New York, U.S.
College:Cornell
Draftyear:1941
Draftround:10
Draftpick:87
Highlights:
  • First-team All-American (1939)
  • First-team All-Eastern (1940)
  • Second-team All-Eastern (1939)
  • Second-team Polish-American (1939)
  • Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame (1979)

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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matuszczak Family Tree.
  2. Web site: In Memoriam.
  3. News: N.Y. Sun Picks All American. Modesto Bee And News-Herald. December 2, 1939.
  4. Web site: In The Polish Colony . The Sunday Morning Star . December 24, 1939 . September 2, 2015 . Rosiak, A. J. . 14.
  5. News: Matuszczak '41 Elected 1940 Football Captain. The Cornell Daily Sun. November 27, 1939.
  6. Web site: Walter J. Matuszczak. Cornell University. February 3, 2015.
  7. Web site: 1941 NFL Draft Listing . March 31, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  8. Web site: Watertown Daily Times Matuszczak a part of Cornell's history . www.watertowndailytimes.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130518110641/http://watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090202/SPORTS01/902239987 . May 18, 2013.