Purdue football's Flowers dies at 81

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue Football All-American Bernie Flowers passed away Thursday night at the age of 81.

Alan Karpick of Gold&Black Illustrated said Flowers died of a heart attack and was in Florida at the time of his passing.

Karpick said Flowers played the end position for Purdue - what is now called receiver - from 1950 to 1952.

Karpick said Flowers played in Purdue's first-ever televised football game.

He said Flowers' contributions to the West Lafayette community extended beyond the football field.

"If you knew Bernie you loved Bernie and he never met a person he didn't like and he was a wonderful ambassador for not only Purdue University, but for football," said Karpick.

Karpick said Flowers played only one year in the NFL. He played for the Baltimore Colts.

Information on service plans have not been announced yet.