FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (Dec. 12, 2005) -- Walt Cudzik, a former NFL and AFL center who was an original member of the Boston Patriots, has died. He was 73.
Cudzik died Dec. 11 at his Gulf Shores, Ala., home, the Patriots said. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Cudzik joined the Patriots in 1960, their first season in the AFL. He played in all 56 games from 1960 to 1963, when the Patriots won their first division title and played in their first AFL Championship Game.
A Chicago native who played at Purdue, Cudzik began his pro career with the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1954. He also played on Buffalo's 1964 AFL championship team.
Cudzik later earned a law degree and practiced as an attorney until he retired in 2002.
He is survived by daughter Corina Cudzik Black; sons Michael W. Cudzik, Jon T. Cudzik, and David C. Cudzik; sister Brenda Wendryhoski; and grandson Eric Black.
Services were set for Dec. 14 at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley, Ala.
