Ronald Zinn

While attending Sandburg High School, Ronald Zinn was awarded varsity letters in football, wrestling and track. He set records in the mile and half mile and was nominated as the Most Valuable Athlete of the 1957 graduating class. Zinn was later appointed to West Point where he began a career of athletic excellence. He ran a 4:19 mile, and later represented the United States in the 1960 Rome Olympics in Race Walking. He also participated in the 1963 Pan American Games in Brazil, placed 3rd and once again was a part of the 1964 Olympics where he placed 6th. West Point honored Zinn with a parade, an honor that had never at the point been bestowed to any other underclassman. After graduating, he was sent to Vietnam and on July 7th, 1965, Zinn was fatally wounded by enemy fire while rescuing a fallen comrade.