Former Packers center Ken Bowman passes away at age 81

Ken Bowman (Google Images)

According to the Associated Press on Tuesday, former Green Bay Packers center Ken Bowman of Milan, Illinois passed away at the age of 81 on December 27. Bowman played 10 seasons with the  Packers from 1964 to 1973. He also was part of the Packers team that won the 1965 National Football League Championship Game.

In 123 games for the Packers, Bowman had three fumble recoveries for -28 yards. His fumble recoveries came in 1964, 1967, and 1968.

Bowman was drafted in the National Football League and the American Football League. He was drafted in the eighth round, 111th overall, by the Green Bay Packers in the 1964 National Football League Draft, and in the 10th round, 75th overall, by the New York Jets in the 1964 American Football League Draft.

One of the most memorable games Bowman played was the Ice Bowl, the 1967 National Football League Championship Game. He was the center when Packers quarterback Bart Starr scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak in a 21-17 Packers win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Ice Bowl is considered one of the greatest games in football history, as it was played in frigid weather conditions. The game temperature was -44 degrees Celsius.

While Bowman played for the Packers, he attended law school. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1972. After his NFL career, Bowman played for the Hawaiians of the World Football League in 1975.

Bowman was a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. He is one of two Packers players inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1981 who have passed away in the last five years. The other was defensive back Herb Adderley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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