Fuzzy Thurston obit

 Football Star Fuzzy Thurston has died

 He was not on the list.

Former Packers guard Fuzzy Thurston, a member of the great Green Bay teams of the 1960s, has died. He was 80.

The team confirmed Sunday that Thurston died after several years of health issues.

Born Fred Thurston, he was best known for his blocking on the Packers' famed power sweep. He helped Green Bay win five NFL championships. He also won a title with Baltimore in 1958.

Despite weighing less than 250 pounds, Thurston was a powerful force for the Packers, playing in 112 games. He retired in 1967 and was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 1975.

"The Packers family was saddened today to learn of the passing of Fuzzy Thurston," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "Fuzzy was an endearing figure for Packers fans for more than 50 years, going back to his all-pro playing days and continuing through his rousing welcomes at Lambeau Field as a favorite alum. Our sincere condolences go out to Fuzzy's family."

A Wisconsin native who played basketball in high school because his school didn't have a football team, Thurston then went to Valparaiso. He didn't join the football team until his junior year, yet was drafted in the fifth round by Philadelphia in 1956.

After a stint in the armed forces, he tried to make the Eagles and Bears, but failed before joining the Colts for the final four regular-season games of 1958.

Green Bay acquired Thurston the next year in a trade for linebacker Marv Matuszak.

As the left guard, Thurston was a key member of the Packers' offensive line during the team's glory years under head coach Vince Lombardi, when they won five NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls. Paired with hall of famer Jerry Kramer at right guard, they led the vaunted Packers sweep running attack. Thurston was named to the 1961 and 1962 All-Pro teams.

Prior to joining the Packers, Thurston played the 1958 season with the NFL champion Baltimore Colts. Thus, Thurston is one of only four players in pro football history to play on six NFL championship teams. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in January 1975.

In response to a sportswriter's question about how he prepared for the famous Ice Bowl game in 1967, when the gametime temperature was −13 °F (−25 °C) (with a wind chill well below that), Thurston responded that he drank "about ten vodkas" in order to stay warm. He remained popular in Wisconsin after his playing days and could often be found at Fuzzy's, a bar he owned not far from Lambeau Field.

Thurston was elected to the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1982, and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. He was the first athlete ever to be voted in by the people of Wisconsin, even though the Hall had been founded in 1951. The Professional Football Researchers Association named Thurston to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006.