Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
James Zell was a football, basketball and tennis star who played from 1935 through 1939. Zell was a four-year letterman in both football and basketball and a two-year letterman in tennis.
A halfback who was also a deft passer, Zell led the football team in scoring in 1937 and 1938. He scored the only touchdown in Cal's 6-0 win over Slippery Rock in 1937 which was the Vulcan's first triumph over their nearby rivals since 1922. He helped the basketball team produce three straight winning seasons from 1935 through 1937 with records of 7-5, 10-4 and 11-5 and was the tri-state district's 17th-leading scorer in 1938. The Cal Monocal labeled Zell "The best all-round player on the flying circus cagers." He was the tennis team's second-deeded singles player during his senior year. Active as well as athletic, Zell was also the President Pro Tempore of the Varsity Club and arranged CSTC's annual Sports Night.
Originally form Monongahela, PA, and a 1935 graduate of Monongahela High School, Zell earned his B.S. in education from Cal U in 1939. Zell's first job after his impressive collegiate days was as an English and social studies teacher in South Hill, Virginia, where he also coached football, basketball and tennis. Zell later worked for the Ford Motor Company and toured the country giving speeches. Always active with athletics, Zell was a two-year all-star in a professional league in Richmond, Virginia. Zell has been living in Florida for the past 52 years and retired as a manufacturer representative who also owned his own engine parts warehouse business. Zell, who has a son, Raymond Christian, resided in West Palm Beach with his wife, Imogene.
Back To Hall of Fame
