It was 68 years ago, but Rich Zinanni still remembers it vividly.

Born with Perthes disease, a slow deterioration of part of the hip joint, a 10-year-old Zinanni stood on his crutches as St. Patrick – long since known as Bishop McNamara – emerged from their brand new football stadium for their 1957 home opener.

“I was awed by the enormity of that thing,” Zinanni said. “The football team came out of it and I was like ‘woah, I want to do that someday.’ I didn’t even know if I’d be able to walk.

“But I did. I got through and I made it.”

Not only did he make it, graduating from Bishop McNamara in 1965, but after time as a linebacker and offensive lineman at Northern Illinois University and a brief stint as a teacher and coach at Sheridan Correctional Facility in LaSalle County, Zinanni b

See Full Page