Former Green Bay Packers Halfback, Veryl Switzer Passed Away

1 year ago

Dreadfully sorry to inform you of the trailblazing former Green Bay Packers halfback, Veryl Switzer passed away at the age of 89. His death news was announced by his alma mater on Saturday, June 4, 2022. May he rest in peace.

He was born on August 6, 1932, in Nicodemus, Kansas, the U.S. He graduated from a college named Kansas State. Switzer starred on the gridiron and in track and field at this university. In 1974, he earned his master’s in education from Kansas State.

In 1990, Switzer was a charter member of the school’s athletics hall of fame. Also, after his achievements, he was placed in the school’s football ring of honor in 2002.

Sadly, on June 4, 2022, another legend and former Green Bay Packers halfback, Veryl Switzer passed away at the age of 89.

He led the team in the Wildcats for three straight seasons in 1952 and 1953 and was selected fourth overall by the Packers in the 1954 draft. During his rookie season, Switzer led the NFL in punt return average.

Switzer is the highest drafted player in Kansas State history until now. He lettered three years in football and also, twice led the Wildcats in rushing. His other honor is to be a three-time letterman in track and field.

He was the first African-American ever drafted in the first round by the Green Bay Packers and a trailblazer as they integrated their roster over the 1950s. He truly was a legend.

He worked at the Chicago Board of Education for almost ten years. After that returned to Kansas State and developed the school’s first university-wide student minority program.

Ebony Theater
United Black Voices
Hispanic advocacy groups
Black Student Union

Are programs that were begun by Switzer.

His parent’s names are Fred and Ora Switzer. He had a son named Calvin Switzer. From 1981 to 1984, Calvin was considered an offensive lineman at Kansas State. There is no documented information about Switzer’s partner or wife.

He purchased land in in 1961, and after retiring from KSU, he continued to handle the farm. Veryl Switzer’s net worth is ranged between a million-dollar and two million.

Switzer traded a career in the NFL after 24 games for service as a military in the Air Force. From 1956 to 1958, he served in the Air Force. After 1958, he spent two more years playing football in Canada.

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Veryl Switzer Passed Away

Based on his family, Gene Taylor who was Switzer’s alma mater announced that Veryl Switzer passed away in a statement on Sunday. There was no specific information about his cause of death. They also added:

“Veryl was one of the most influential and impactful K-Staters in our lifetime and helped pave the way for so many others to follow in his footsteps,” Wildcats athletic director Gene Taylor said of the first Black scholarship player to graduate from the land-grant institution. “He will be forever remembered as a true trailblazer.”

The K-State Family said: ”A K-State giant has just passed. Veryl Switzer opened so many doors for so many multicultural students. So many of us stand on his shoulders and his impact is still being felt today. Our sincere condolences to the entire Switzer family. His legacy will continue to live on.”

Gail Finney who served in the Kansas House of Representative shared her feeling: ”R.I.P. Veryl Switzer, Sr. He was a halfback in the NFL who played for the Green Bay Packers, an administrator at his alma mater K-State where he is a hall of fame, an avid farmer, & groundbreaker in Nicodemus, KS where he founded the Kansas Black Farmers Association.”

”This has been a sad couple of weeks in the world, and we have lost another legend. Half Back Veryl Switzer has died at age 89. A hero who played for the packers and then traded his career to fight for the country. RIP.” A fan and someone who adored Switzer shared his condolence and wrote this.

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