The AFL has lost two former players in the past couple of days – Dallas Texans center, Jim Barton and New York Jets defensive back, Jim Hudson.

Jim Hudson, age 70, died on June 25, of Traumatic Dementia Encephalophathy.  An obituary can be found HERE.

A note about the passing of Jim Barton was sent to me by Tex Noel, Executive Director of the Intercollegiate Football Research Association.  He included the following information:

He was raised in Mason, West Virginia; graduated from Wahama High School in 1952 (Wahama Sports Hall of Fame), and received his Bachelor of Arts degree (1956) and his Masters Degree from Marshall University, where he attended on both basketball and football scholarships.

After college he went on to serve two years in the United States Navy, serving stateside on the Bainbridge and Little Creek Naval Bases, where he continued to play organized football and basketball.

After his service in the Navy, Jim was offered a contract to play professional football with the Baltimore Colts, and as he describes, he was the last player cut by Coach Weeb Ewbank, who became a good friend over the years.

He was eventually signed to play by Lamar Hunt, owner of the Dallas Texans in the American Football League. He was later traded to the Denver Broncos, and finished his playing career in Denver in 1963.

He spent two additional years as a scout for the San Diego Chargers under Head Coach Sid Gilman. Before his playing career ended, Jim had entered the insurance business on a part time basis to make sure he had a career after football, and it was this decision that would bring him to Central Ohio.