Frank Zanetell Memorial Football Scholarship

Frank was drafted during the Korean War and sent to Europe where U.S. occupational troops were maintained after World War II. In Germany, he was captain, not in rank, of the U.S. Commanding General’s winning football team in the European Theatre Football League.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Frank came to Gunnison in 1956 to attend Western State College (now WCU) where he earned a BA & MA degree in business. He was selected as the Graduate Assistant in Accounting, under Dr. Mitchell Mateik. As captain of Western’s Football team, under Coach Willard “Pete” Pederson, he was named to the NCAA All- American Team (Div. II) as a Guard and Linebacker, as well as to several of Western’s “all time” teams through the years. He walked on and made the inaugural Denver Broncos team just before he got injured and released, days before the team’s initial game. Frank returned to Gunnison and never left. He married to Marlene (also a WCU grad), raised a family, enjoyed the out-of-doors, and was successful in business and community affairs. He was his own man: self-employed, first as a local accountant and later focusing on his own financial affairs, principally as owner of the Four Seasons Apartment complex in Gunnison.

Frank Zanetell was a handsome man with a fine mind and a good heart. Like many of his teammates, Frank came to Gunnison to attend Western and to play football and never left.

Frank was a believer in the life lessons and experiences that can be gained from plying football: teamwork, commitment, and accountability. He was a football guy, a Gunnison guy, and a WCU guy. It was an easy decision for our family to pay respects to his legacy through this scholarship.

ELIBIGILITY
-Need: a balance of Football talent and unmet financial need shall be the criteria by which the qualified applicants are evaluated.
-Athletics: Must be a Football player, in good standing with the team and University
-Year in School (after completion of current spring semester): Incoming freshmen through seniors are eligible
-Other: Colorado resident with good character. Character reference from High School Head Coach required for incoming freshman or transfers. Character reference from Western Head Coach required for returning players.