Frank Ziegler, top row, at right, and his brothers, all Tech graduates, gathered around their mother in 1962.
Frank Ziegler was one of eight children born to Theodore and Elizabeth Ziegler. All seven of the family’s boys would attend and graduate from Georgia Tech. In 1962, the mother of the accomplished Ziegler clan was named an honorary alumna of Georgia Tech.
Frank Richard Ziegler, IM 50, of Gainesville, Ga., died March 6. He was 87.
As a youngster in College Park, Ga., Mr. Ziegler helped his family by running an Atlanta Journal paper route. At 16, he followed in his brothers’ footsteps by enrolling at Tech.
A year later, he interrupted his studies to enlist in the Navy and served nearly four years. His family said in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution obituary that Mr. Ziegler kept himself in shape by spending hours running on the sandy beaches in California.
Upon his return to Tech in 1946, Mr. Ziegler joined the Tech football team. Coach Bobby Dodd called Ziegler “the best fullback Georgia Tech has had since Father Lumpkin.” Mr. Ziegler, an All-Southern team honoree, was nicknamed Zoomer and Ziggy the Cat by Yellow Jackets fans.
In 1948, Mr. Ziegler signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite facing much larger players, he enjoyed success in the NFL. He led the league in yards gained in 1950 and helped the Eagles claim a 1949 championship.
Mr. Ziegler spent the offseason during his pro football career working with his brother Bill, who started Ziegler Tools in 1948. He helped his brother open a store on Luckie Street near the Tech campus. He eventually joined his brother at the business full time and helped secure accounts with Delta, General Motors and Lockheed. Mr. Ziegler served as vice president of Ziegler Tools for 47 years. He was known to be in the office each day by 6 a.m.
Mr. Ziegler was preceded in death by his brothers Waldemar, ChE 32; Carl, ME 35; Fred, TE 39; Walter, ME 40; and John, ME 49. He is survived by his brother Bill Ziegler, IM 41.
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