Gust Zarnas

Gustave Constantine Zarnas (December 16, 1913 – December 26, 2000) was a Greek-born American professional football guard. Born in Icaria, Greece, he moved with his parents to the U.S. at age five and grew up in Pennsylvania. After high school, he played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1934 to 1937 and was named first-team All-American as a senior. He then played three seasons of professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Brooklyn Dodgers and Green Bay Packers, winning an NFL championship in 1939. He was the first NFL player from Greece. After his career, he worked as a coach and founded a contractor business. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Early life Zarnas was born on December 16, 1913, in Icaria, Greece. He immigrated to the U.S. with his parents at age five and grew up in a Pennsylvania steel town amidst the Great Depression. He first attended Har-Brack High School in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, before later attending The Kiski School in Saltsburg. He was a top football player at Kiski, where he was a fullback and guard, winning "wide acclaim" according to the Sidney Daily News, while at fullback he, "like a battering ram[,] would plough through the line for yards plus." The following year, he was the starting guard for Ohio State, as they compiled a record of 5–3, tying for second in the Big Ten; the Buckeyes shut out four of their opponents and only allowed 27 points to be scored against them all season. In his senior year, he was the team's top lineman and helped the Buckeyes record six shutouts while compiling a record of 6–2, placing second in the Big Ten. The 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), 220-pound (100 kg) Zarnas was named All-Big Ten, All-Midwest and first-team All-American for his performance in the 1937 season. He was also selected for the East–West Shrine Game and the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game. In his senior year, against Indiana, he took a handoff and then completed a 57-yard pass to Fred Crow. He signed to play for the Bears in July 1938. He made the team and ended up playing in 10 games, one as a starter, during the 1938 season, helping the Bears compile a record of 6–5. He became the first NFL player from Greece. In August 1939, prior to the regular season, he was traded from the Bears to the Brooklyn Dodgers in exchange for Joe Siegel. He appeared in four games for the Dodgers, two as a starter, before being released on October 12. Five days after his release by the Dodgers, Zarnas signed with the Green Bay Packers. He appeared in a further five games for the Packers, two as a starter. In the championship, he recorded a sack. He participated in the 1940 NFL All-Star Game after the season. He appeared in nine games, two as a starter, for the Packers in 1940, helping them compile a record of 6–2–1, which placed second in their division. He did not return for the 1941 season, concluding his professional career having appeared in 28 games, seven as a starter. At the start of World War II, he entered the United States Navy and became a lieutenant. He then became an instructor, football coach, and wrestling coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1946, before becoming a football and wrestling coach at Easton Area High School in 1947, where he worked through 1949.

Zarnas studied at universities in Pittsburgh and New York for a master's degree. He served as the business's president and treasurer until his death. He married Grace Kotses and had a son and a daughter. Zarnas died on December 26, 2000, in Bethlehem, at the age of 87.