Patriots Mourn The Loss Of Houston Antwine
BOSTON (CBS) - The New England Patriots organization is mourning the loss of Houston Antwine, a member of the team's 50th Anniversary Team, who passed away Monday night.
Antwine, a six-time All Star in the American Football League, was 72.
Compounding the loss was the news that his wife, Evelyn, also passed away Tuesday morning.
"For those of us who grew up watching the Boston Patriots, this is a really sad day," Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said in a release. "In the 1960s, the defensive tackle tandem of 'Twine' and Jim Lee Hunt were as good as any in the league and helped propel the Patriots to the franchise's first division championship in 1963. Myra and I had the good fortune of hosting Houston and his wife, Evelyn, at my home just two years ago when we honored the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team. I loved hearing Houston's stories about those early days in Boston. It was such a thrill for me, personally, to spend time with the players from that era. I am saddened to learn of the deaths of both Houston and Evelyn and want to express my deepest sympathies to the Antwine's daughter, Regina, and all who mourn her losses. Let us all cherish life and remind loved ones how we feel about them daily."
Antwine was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the eighth round, 64th overall, of the 1961 AFL Draft, but was then traded to the Boston Patriots before ever playing a game for the Oilers. Antwine became a defensive catalyst for the Boston Patriots in the newly formed AFL and was selected as an AFL All-Star for six consecutive seasons, spanning 1963-1968. His play earned him the highest accolade as he was elected to the Patriots 1960's All-Decade team and was named to the All-Time All-AFL Team.
Antwine spent 11-of-his-12 professional seasons with the Patriots (1961-69- AFL Boston Patriots, 1970- NFL Boston Patriots, and 1971- NFL New England Patriots) before playing the 1972 season, his final, with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL.
In 142 regular season games for the Patriots, he recorded 39 sacks and led the team in that respective category during the 1967, 1968, and 1969 seasons.
In 2009, the New England Patriots Hall of Fame nomination committee selected Antwine as one of three Patriots alumni most deserving for the team's Hall of Fame induction.
