Dick Zippert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hate to admit it, but when I hear the name Dick Zippert I immediately picture him walking around the roller rink under the St. Ann's gym wearing his wrestling singlet. Not a pretty picture. But it makes sense because after leaving St. Ann's, Dick went to Cathedral Latin, and then St. Joseph and spent much of his time on the wrestling mats.

 

While in high school, Dick qualified for the state wrestling tournament each of his four years, and as a junior at Cathedral Latin, finished 3rd in the state in the 132 pound weight class.

 

After high school, Dick accepted a Division I wrestling scholarship and attended Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio. Zip again showed prowess as a grappler, twice being named to the All Mid American Conference Team. He was also selected by his coaches and teammates to be a Team Captain in his junior and senior years at OU.

 

Some college kids are on the four year plan, others are on the five or six year plan, but not Dick. He is currently on the 35 year (and counting) plan, as he has been a permanent fixture in Athens since 1980. He decided he liked the life in a college town and after graduating with what his college buddies claim was a Bachelor's Degree in Beer, he chose to get in the bar business. After working as a barback, bouncer, and bartender, Dick decided it was time to be an owner. In 1991 Zip bought the "Cat's Eye Saloon" on Court Street in Athens. It's a pretty safe bet that if any of us have or do send our kids to OU, they're going to run into Dick Zippert, but don't tell your kids to look for the 50 something year old guy wearing a wrestling singlet, instead, tell them to look for the guy wearing the bushy mustache and goatee, and the worn out Bobcat baseball cap, Zip's new trademark look.

 

After college, Zippert has stayed involved with wrestling by spending five years as a Bobcat assistant coach and by officiating for fifteen years at both the high school and collegiate levels. He has also officiated seven Ohio State Wrestling Championships.

 

Although his parents have passed away, Dick still has family in Cleveland, and being a Brown season ticket holder since 1987, does on occassion return to this part of the state. On one such return in 2003, Zip was honored by being inducted to the Cathedral Latin Athletic (not Academic) Hall of Fame, which, I must say, is not bad for a guy who didn't even graduate from the school.

 

Dick travels outside the state of Ohio as well, mostly with his "Duck Dynasty" bow hunting and fishing pals in search of deer, antelope, bear, you name it. Those expeditions have taken him through much of the United States and Canada including recent trips to Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, and northern Quebec. He also has found a way to make two trips to New Zealand to enjoy his favorite past time.

 

Zippert plans to keep traveling in the future; who knows, maybe he'll even convince his long time girlfried, Dr. Dianne Gut, a professor in the Education Department at Ohio University, to slip in a trip to Cleveland next year for a reunion.