• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Packers / Packer nation loses one of its former greats!

Packer nation loses one of its former greats!

December 14, 2014 By Bill Scott

Fuzzy Thurston - Photo/Packers.com

Fuzzy Thurston – Photo/Packers.com

The Green Bay Packers lost one of their former greats today.  80-year-old Fuzzy Thurston, who played left guard on Vince Lombardi’s five NFL championship teams in the 1960s passed away after a battle with liver cancer.

Thurston was a crucial component of the team’s famous power sweep.  Counting his success with Baltimore in 1958, Thurston was a member of six NFL championship teams, including the first two Super Bowl-winning Packer squads.  Over his nine Packers seasons (1959-67), Thurston played in 112 games and was named first-team All-Pro in 1961.  Thurston was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1975.

Thurston was born and raised in Altoona, a small town near Eau Claire.  Altoona High School didn’t have a football team back then, but Thurston earned a basketball scholarship to Valparaiso University.  He joined the football team as a junior and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round in 1956.

Thurston caught on with the Baltimore Colts and was a backup guard for the Colts when they beat the New York Giants in the first sudden-death overtime title game in NFL history.

After Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach of the Packers in 1959, he traded for Thurston and the rest is history.

Thurston was always great with the fans, always smiling, posing for pictures and signing autographs.  Even while going through business troubles during his career.

Thurston lost 11 Left Guard restaurants in the early 1980’s.  Years later, he ended up owning the government $1.7-million in back taxes.  He had his assets and memorabilia seized and sold at auction back in 2011.

Thurston would lose his biggest prize, his wife Susan in 2012.  Now, two years later, they’ll be together again!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Packers, Sports, Titletown Report Tagged With: Green Bay Packers



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...