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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Football Program Loses Past Great
12/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Percy Zachary, the first African-American to earn All-Big Ten honors in football at the University of Minnesota, passes away at his St. Paul home on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, at the age of 80.
Mr. Zachary is survived by his wife of 54 years, Martha Zachary, his children, Thomas Zachary of St. Paul, Minn., Sharon (Melvin) Freeman of Oakdale, Minn., Dr. Dennis (Rebecca) Zachary of Ackworth, Iowa, attorney Steven W. Zachary of Mesa, Ariz.; nineteen grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Zachary lettered just one season at the University of Minnesota and came out of nowhere to make a huge impact for the Golden Gophers in 1952.
A two-time All-City performer as a fullback and end at St. Paul’s Marshall High School, Zachary originally started his college career in 1948 at Louisville Municipal College (a fully accredited but segregated undergraduate division of the University of Louisville), where he booted 35 extra points as a place-kicker and was a standout flanker.
Following the 1949 season, however, Zachary wanted to be closer to home and returned to the Twin Cities and enrolled at Minnesota.
After sitting out the 1950 season and missing the entire 1951 slate season with an injury, Zachary burst on the scene during the 1952 campaign. First as a defensive tackle and then as a middle guard on the Gophers’ defensive line, Zachary proved to be one of the Big Ten’s top defenders.
Following the season, he was one of three Gophers to earn first team All-Big Ten accolades along with All-American running back Paul Giel and running back Bob McNamara.
A wake to honor the memory of Mr. Zachary will be held on Thursday, Dec. 27, from 5-8 p.m. at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church (375 North Oxford, St. Paul, Minn.). Mr. Zachary’s funeral will be held at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church on Friday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the Zachary family requests that that a plant be sent to a special friend or relative or a memorial donation to St. Peter Claver Catholic Church be made in his memory.
