Walter Vezmar (January 1, 1925 – May 28, 1981) was an American football player.
Vezmar was born in Detroit in 1925 and attended Northeastern High School.[1] He served in the Army during World War II. He sustained a head injury while serving with the Ranger during the Battle of Anzio in 1944.[2]
After the war, he played college football for Michigan State. During a game in November 1945, he aggravated his wartime head injury and was advised by doctors to quit the game.[2] He was also declared academically ineligible and signed with the Detroit Lions in June 1946.[3][4] He appeared in 11 games for the Lions 1946 at age 21 and also appeared in two games in 1947.[5][6] He was Rookie of the Year with the Lions.[7] In 1948 and 1949, he played for the Paterson Panthers of the American Football League.[1]
He also played for the New York Yaks in 1949. In 1951, he enlisted in the Air Force.[8] He later became a minister with the Baptist church. He died in 1981 in Pollock, Louisiana.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Walt Vezmar". Pro Football Archivess. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ a b "MSC Lose Star Tackle: Doctor Tells Vezmar to Give Up Football". Detroit Free Press. November 13, 1945. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "MSC Star Joins Lions: Frosh Tackle Vezmar Turns Pro in Hurry". Detroit Free Press. June 22, 1946. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Grades Bad, Makes The Grade On Grid". Ironwood Daily Globe. June 22, 1946. p. 7.
- ^ "Walt Vezmar". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
- ^ The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia (first ed.). Sterling Publishing. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4027-4216-3.
- ^ a b "Walt Vezmar". The Town Talk. May 29, 1981. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ex-Michigan State and Pro Gridder Now at England AFB". The Town Talk. September 16, 1955. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.