Houston Antwine Elected into Patriots Hall of Fame

Friday, April 03, 2015

Matt LaPan, Go Local Sports Reporter

Houston Antwine during his time with the Patriots

The nomination committee for the New England Patriots team Hall of Fame convened to make their selections for the nominees for the 2015 class, Thursday. Prior to the start of that meeting, the 10-person senior selection committee met to discuss if any players met their qualifications for enshrinement.

To be selected by the senior selection committee, a former Patriots player must be retired for at least 25 years. The committee made one selection for enshrinement, a unanimous selection of defensive lineman Houston Antwine.

Antwine was a member of the Patriots for 11 seasons, from 1961-1971 after being acquired via trade from the Houston Oilers for a 4th Round pick. He appeared in 142 games and led the Patriots in sacks in three consecutive seasons, from 1967-69. He recorded 39 sacks in his career, tying him with Richard Seymour for 10th in team history.

Antwine will enter the Patriots Hall of Fame as the second player to be selected by the senior selection committee. The other senior selection committee Hall of Fame member was Jon Morris, who was elected in 2011.

The late Antwine passed away in 2011 at the age of 72.

"For those of us who grew up watching the Boston Patriots, we applaud the senior selection committee's choice," said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. "In the 1960s, the defensive tackle tandem of Houston Antwine and Jim Lee Hunt was as good as any in the league. Houston's play helped push the Patriots to our first division championship in 1963. I had the good fortune of hosting Houston and his wife, Evelyn, at my home in 2009 when we honored the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team. It was a thrill for me to hear his stories about those early days in Boston. I look forward to hosting his daughter, Regina, when we honor her late-father later this summer for his induction ceremony."