University of Maine Athletics

John Zollo was one of the earliest Little All-Americans in football at the University of Maine, achieving that honor in 1947 as an offensive guard. That year he led the black Bears to a 6-1 record, playing nearly every minute of each game despite the fact that he had suffered severe wounds while fighting with the 82nd Airborne Division in Europe during World War II. In his 34 months of overseas duty, John was awarded, among other decorations, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart with four clusters.