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: |
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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.