Hall of Fame - Paxton - Buckley

HALL OF FAME 

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL 

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 

COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF 

FAME INDUCTION 

April 1, 2000 

88 Wins 38 Losses 

Teaching and coaching all thirty-six years at Paxton and 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Jerry has been truly loyal to his 

players, students, and community. Throughout his career, he's 

been viewed as a leader. Because of these leadership qualities, 

he was Chairman of the Athletic Directors for both the 

Wauseca and Sangamon Valley Conferences for several years. 

For the values he instilled in the players he's coached as well 

as the students he's taught, he's received various honors. In his 

career, he was named Young Educator of the Year and the 

athletic directors recognized him as State Athletic Director of 

the Year. Teams he's coached have been motivated by the high 

standards he's established. Known for their caliber of fair play, 

five times they have received the Sportsmanship Award given 

by the IHSA. With a winning percentage of seventy percent, 

teams he's coached in the twelve years as head coach, reached 

the IHSA Playoffs nine consecutive times, won six Sangamon 

Valley Conference titles, finished the regular season 

undefeated twice and made the quarter-finals once. Along with 

this he's coached in the ICA Shrine All-star Football game. 

Recognized as one of the outstanding coaches of East Central 

Illinois, he's been a popular speaker for both the football 

coaches and athletic directors. 

Visions - The Panther – 2000 

Congratulations to Coach Zim 

You have been and continue to be a great influence on us. 

Thanks for all the hard work and fun! 

The 1998-99 

PBL Panther Football Team 

Visions - The Panther - 2000 

Coach of the Year! Congratulations Zim!! 

Thanks for giving us 36 years of a “class act.” You created 

Champions in your classroom who became Championship 

Teams on the field. Your commitment to teaching young 

athletes to accept their position, to fulfill the job to the best of 

their ability, and to be responsible to their teammates has 

made a difference in many lives. 

Thanks Coach!! 

PBL Panther Booster Club 

PBL Administrators, Faculty, and Staff 

PBL Board of Education 

News-Gazette 

April 1, 2000 

By Brian Dietz 

PBL’s Zimmerman Shares Credit 

For Hall of Fame Honor 

Jerry Zimmerman doesn't believe in individual honors in 

football. In 12 years as Paxton-Buckley-Loda's head coach, he 

never handed out an MVP award or a most improved player 

plaque. Through 37 years of coaching high school football, the 

team always came first. 

But Zimmerman, who retired after the 1998-99 school year, 

will be among 10 men who receive one of high school 

football's highest individual honors. Zimmerman officially 

will join the Illinois High School Coaches Association Hall of 

Fame at a banquet tonight at Champaign's Clarion Hotel. "I'm 

just really representing PBL and all the people involved in the 

football program," Zimmerman said. “I’m proud to represent 

the football program." He joined that program in 1963 after' 

graduating from Eureka College. Zimmerman got his start 

coaching linemen and teaching biology. "I was straight out of 

college, and I remember we weren't very good," Zimmerman 

said. "When you start, you're happy to go a week at a time. 

But I thought I knew everything." Zimmerman was part of the 

1984 Paxton team that lost to Amboy in the Class 2A 

championship game. The coach of that Amboy team, Don 

Wyzgowski, will be enshrined along with Zimmerman. 

Zimmerman never dreamed of the hall of fame, but longtime 

assistant coach Jim Zenner knew he was a lock. "When he 

retired, I knew he couldn't get in right away,'' said Zenner, 

who coached 10 years with Zimmerman. "But I told my 

friends it's a no-brainer. He's so well known around the area. 

"He's always been an ambassador of good will for PBL. He's a 

walking billboard for PBL. He's an institution around here." 

At Paxton and PBL, Zimmerman was part of six conference 

championships, nine consecutive play-off appearances and 

two undefeated teams. As head coach, Zimmerman compiled 

an 88-38 record. 

"You see these great coaches being inducted, and you don't 

consider it," Zimmerman said. "It's the program that's the 

important thing. We don't give any speeches. We'd probably 

all break down." 

Zimmerman coached fathers and sons and nearly got to some 

grandsons. He loved the everyday work: practice, dealing 

with the parents and media and especially interacting with his 

students. "His real goal is to see everyone play, as many kids 

as possible in a game," Zenner said. "He never mentioned state 

to me. He said, 'We're going to try to have fun and do our 

best." 

The 59-year-old Zimmerman said it was tougher watching 

from the stands last season. "You didn't have any control." 

Zimmerman said. "It's easier on the sideline."

TEACHER 

Paxton Record 

May 7, ---- 

Letters to the Editor 

Thanks to a teacher 

who made a difference 

I have wanted to tell a special teacher the following for many 

years and was not quite sure how to do it. 

Just a few words of encouragement can change a person’s life. 

You did that for me, and I have never forgotten it. 

Teachers do make a difference! 

Thank you, Mr. Zimmerman! 

Yvonne Rollins-Sterner 

PHS Class of 1971, 

Columbus, Ohio 

Letter from Jason Franklin 

June 4, 2001 

Mr. Zimmerman, 

My name is Jason Franklin and I am a teacher and coach. I 

attended St. Joseph-Ogden High school (87-90) and more 

recently was a teacher and coach at Fisher Jr./Sr. High School 

the past two years. 

I have heard a lot about you as a coach since my days at SJO 

and at Fisher. I’ve watched you lead some great teams at PBL 

and do a lot with kids. You have been, and still are, a great 

example to young teachers/coaches like myself. 

I recently read the “first person” of Katrina Tammen of PBL 

in the Thursday, May 31st Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. 

She mentioned you as her favorite teacher and said the 

following: “…I think the thing that set him apart from the 

other teachers is that he made me feel smart.” 

What a wonderful compliment to give a retired teacher. I’ve 

enclosed a copy of the article in this note in case you did not 

have an opportunity to read it. 

I wish you and your family the best. 

George Young (retired teacher/coach) 

In the first week of my first year and Zim’s third year of 

teaching at Paxton High School, during home room period 

Zim and I were unpacking new equipment that had arrived 

over the summer. In the equipment boxes were new style 

needle valve Bunsen burners. We were trying them out to see 

how the adjustments had to be set. All of a sudden there was a 

fire alarm drill. As we left the building we heard the principal 

(Thompson Shields) saying to everyone, “This is not a drill. – 

Everyone get out now!!” While standing in the parking lot 

discussing the alarm, it dawned on Zim and me that just 

maybe “we” set off the alarm. Sure enough, when Ralph 

Rollins, the janitor, came out of the building he headed 

straight to Zim and me. He confirmed that the sensor in the 

Bio prep room had been tripped but all was ok. After school, 

two very embarrassed bio teachers went to the principal’s 

office and fessed up to our mistake. 

After the addition of staff members from the Ford Central 

school system to the PBL the faculty and staff decided it 

would be fun to have a trick or treat event between those 

individuals wanting to participate. The idea was to draw 

names and during the week prior to Halloween, trick or treat 

the person whose name you drew. What ever you did to the 

person you were to remain anonymous. A great deal of fun 

was seeing the staff do various tricks on each other. 

On morning I arrived to my room to find it all but 

unrecognizable! Chairs were stacked – glitter strewn about – 

streamers hanging, etc. On my front desk, however, was a 

huge, beautifully decorated cake. 

Zim was having a fun time, at my expense, due to the 

condition of my room. Then he spotted the cake! He 

suggested we cut the cake right then. I told him no, I was 

going to take it home to show my wife this beautiful cake. 

During the first lunch period, Zim came in and asked again if 

he could just have the corner piece off of the cake for lunch. I 

said, “Sure, go back to the prep room and cut yourself a piece 

of cake.” The next thing I heard was a painful cry from Zim 

and the words were: “The *&@#%! thing is Styrofoam!” He 

stormed out of the prep area and announced that I had been 

pranked and he was going to get whoever it was for me. 

Richard Long, I never told him it was you! 

These two stories are ones I am willing to share. Over the 30 

years we taught together, the rest remains between us. 

Jim Flaherty (former PBL Principal) 

It was an extremely hot and humid initial football practice, 

mid-90’s, and the boys were really complaining. Zim just 

blew them off and told them to drink plenty of water. The 

conditions were not any better in the afternoon for the second 

practice of the day. In fact, it was worse. 

Zim came to the afternoon practice wearing a winter coat, a 

stocking hat and gloves. He directed the entire practice 

dressed for a blizzard. The boys did not complain at all about 

the heat. 

After practice, Zim came storming into the office, ripped off 

the winter garb, and guzzled bottle after bottle of water. I 

thought he was going to pass out. 

Typical Zim. 

Visions – 1999 

PBL Panthers - The end of the century 

Teachers Logging Off 

Mr. Zimmerman has been a teacher, coach and mentor since 

he’s been at PBL. Many would say he’s been an important 

person in their lives. In his 36 years of coaching and teaching, 

Zim said his favorite parts were working with the kids, having 

fun with them and playing with them. He said he would miss 

them the most because he wouldn’t be able to see them learn, 

and he wouldn’t be able to learn from them. Mr. Zimmerman 

started thinking when he was a teenager and he realized that 

he wanted to work with high school aged kids for life. He 

enjoyed it so much! Next year, Zim is going to lay back and 

relax. He will be here in the fall, but he might head to a 

warmer state for the winter, he says.

COACH 

1988-1999 

Quarterbacks under Zim’s tutelage 

1987-88 Mark Coplea 

1988-89 Mark Coplea 

1989-90 Richard Foellner 

1990-91 Brian Jones 

1991-92 Chris Jones 



1994-95 Mark Prina 

1995-96 Mark Prina 

1996-97 Andy Elson 



1988-1999 

Football Captains 

1987-88 Mitch Deason, Kenny White 

1988-89 Mark Coplea, Jeff Graham, Kent Stevenson 

1989-90 Jim Ferrell, Richard Foeller, Dave Foster 

1990-91 Brian Jones, Eric Smith 

1991-92 Andy Molck, Jake Peden 

1992-93 Mike Bridges, Kirk Swanson, Mike Wright 

1993-94 Chris Jones, Kenny Lee 

1994-95 Cory Grohler, Cody McCabe, Brad Smith 

1995-96 Donnie Knuth, Chad Rock, Jay Sanders 

1996-97 Jason Jones, Craig Loschen, Paul Rodeen 

1997-98 Todd Moore, Derek Zarring 

1998-99 Andy Elson, Phil Foster, Micah Luebchow 

PBL HIGH SCHOOL 

TEAM RECORDS 

DURING ZIM’S TENURE 

(These records are from 1965-1998) 

Most points scored in season 430/1993 

Most first downs in a season 265/1993 

Most first downs by passing 72/1993 

Most first downs by rushing 186/1993 

Most passes attempted in a season 206/1995 

Most passes completed in a season 93/1995 

Most yards gained by passing in a season 1553/1995 

Most yards returned by interceptions in a season 263/1969 

& 1995 

Most rushing plays in a season 565/1993 

Most total yards gained by rushing in a season 3848/1993 

Most yards lost rushing in a season by opponents 474/1998 

Most net yards gained rushing in a season 3205/1993 

Most rushing and passing plays in a season 770/1995 

Most total yards gained in a season 5186/1993 

Best average per play in a season by a team 7.00/1993 

Record 

YEAR CONFERENCE FINISH RECORD 

1987 6 2-7 

1988 2 5-4 

1989 2* 5-4 

1990 2 7-3 (0-1) 

1991 1* 7-3 (0-1) 

1992 1 8-2 (0-1) 

1993 1 9-0 (3-1) 

1994 1 7-2 (0-1) 

1995 1 9-0 (3-1) 

1996 2 7-2 (0-1) 

1997 2 6-3 (0-1) 

1998 1 8-1 (2-1) 

*Denotes Tie 

()Denotes Playoffs 

Kirk Swanson – 1993 Graduate - My favorite Zim quote: 

"Swanson, you big lummox, just go up and snap the ball!" 

We may have not seen it at the time we were playing for him, 

but we look 

back on the things we learned from playing for Zim and it 

helped to shape us into the adults we are today. I had the 

privilege of playing for Coach Zenner, I cannot wait to see 

what the team can do under his leadership as head coach. Go 

get’em Zen! 

Chris Jones – 1994 Graduate - I have several fond memories 

of Coach Zimmerman, but when I was asked to write one 

down I couldn't decide on one specific memory to share. The 

more I thought about it, one clear image of Coach Zimmerman 

kept coming to mind. He is standing on the sideline with the 

scoreboard behind him, he has on bright yellow pants, a navy 

blue shirt, a yellow PBL hat, his right arm is pumping at his 

side with a smile on his face that stretches from ear to ear.

Chad Rock – 1996 Graduate - The one thing that truly stands 

out was his ability to relate to his players. He always had a 

knack for saying or doing the right things at the right times to 

keep us motivated and focused on the task at hand. One 

example of this occurred during the three-a-day practices that 

we always had before school started at the beginning of a 

season. As these practices were during the summer, they were 

always very hot. On one particularly hot day, I think Zim 

realized that we were dragging a bit and that he needed to 

boost our morale. For the afternoon practice, all of the 

assistant coaches came out wearing shorts and a T-shirt, which 

was typical . . . and Zim came out wearing a heavy winter 

coat. We all had a good laugh and expected him to quickly 

take it off. Instead, he wore it for the whole practice! With 

that, he showed the team that he was willing to suffer along 

with us and he also earned our respect. Though I don't 

specifically remember, I'm sure we had a great practice that 

day. Zim was a great coach who had the ability to get the most 

out of his players and many of his lessons on discipline and 

teamwork are still with me today. 

I would also like to say good luck and best wishes to Coach 

Zenner. Having played for Coach Zenner, I know that the guys 

who are playing for him now are definitely in good hands. 

Rich Foellner – 1990 Grduate - My best memory of Zim is at 

the end of my junior year. Zim knew I wanted to be a 

quarterback and he came up to me and said he didn't want me 

to be a quarterback, but a cornerback. He told me that I would 

have to really prove to him that I wanted the job. At the start 

of my senior year he reiterated the same thing again. Not only 

did this make me mad, but it pushed me like I had never been 

pushed before. I worked my heart out and won the starting job 

for the season on both offense and defense. To this day, this 

has been a time that I can go back to and use to push myself 

when someone tells me I can't do something. I will always 

remember this and carry it with me for the rest of my life. 

I would like to wish Zenner good luck with his head coaching 

position. He was the offensive coordinator when I played and 

is a great person. I have no doubt that he will be a great asset 

and awesome coach for PBL. I hope that he will be the head 

coach when my kids get up to that level. It will be a honor to 

have my sons play under his leadership. 

Kenny Lee – 1994 Graduate - I could write pages about 

humorous things that occurred while playing football for 

Coach Zim. As a lineman, I was fortunate enough to be able 

to spend extra time with him, as he was my position coach. 

Besides all of the fond memories of playing PBL football, the 

one thing that I carry to this day from Coach Zim is to always 

show class. Show class when you are beating Fisher by forty 

points at half-time, and show class when you lose to 

Carlinville by two points to go to the state championship. 

Show class, always. I was able to relay that to my players as a 

coach, and to young coaches that I work with today in my 

current position. I feel honored to be able to tell people that I 

played for Coach Zimmerman. Finally, good luck Coach 

Zenner, I wish you the best! 

Jason Jones – 1997 Graduate - I’ve spent some time thinking 

about all of the “Zim” memories I had over my four years in 

high school – there are a lot! Mostly when I think of Zim, of 

course, I think football first, but after really looking back over 

the years I find myself thinking about Mr. Zimmerman, 

Biology Teacher and Athletic Director, not just Coach Zim. 

Mr. Zimmerman was a great teacher, not just biology, but a 

great life teacher. It didn’t matter whether you played sports, 

were in the band, a member of FFA, on the math team, or 

were not even involved with extracurricular activities. He saw 

each student as an individual and treated them as such. Zim 

was a great guy, wasn’t he! 

Now with that being said, one of my fondest memories of Zim 

was a football practice my junior year. It was the end of 

practice and we were doing 100-yard bear crawls (must have 

been a Gibson City week). We were finishing up our last one 

and everyone was really struggling. One senior lineman, in 

particular, was struggling the most. Every other word out of 

this guy’s mouth was a cuss word. With his classic grin from 

ear to ear, Zim walked out to meet this poor guy about 25 

yards before he finished and said “Do you kiss your mom with 

that mouth I don’t want to hear another rotten curse word out 

of you or everyone is doing another 100 yards!” Without 

missing a beat, this lineman started replacing his words with 

“Beans! Rotten Beans! Rotten Rummy Beans!” All Zim could 

do was continue to walk beside this guy and laugh as they 

both crossed the goal line. I guess looking back now you 

could say that Zim knew how to get each of his 

players/students to reach down inside and give it all they had 

when they didn’t think they had anymore to give. That’s 

something he taught his students; something that we have used 

everyday since high school. 

Jim W. Ferrell – 1990 Graduate - #90 – Defensive End – 

Jerry was a wonderful coach and teacher, and it always 

seemed hard for me to see how he could juggle both biology 

teacher and coach. He had the passion for both that was out of 

this world. When he was on the field he made it seem as if 

football was all that mattered in the world. Then on the other 

hand when he took the hat off and stepped in the classroom, 

biology seemed to be his life. I remember him and liked him 

mostly on the field, because football was my passion, as was 

his. He always tried to get 105% out of each and every one of 

us. I remember every week after a good or bad game the team 

would sit down and go over the film of the game. Before the 

film started he would ask individual questions, like why did 

you miss that tackle or why did you miss that pass, or you 

guys move like old people. If we would deny the accusation 

he would say, “Remember the eye in the sky doesn’t lie.” 

Jerry’s hat throwing at bad calls during the games just added 

to his character as a full-blooded football coach, and I loved it. 

Jerry’s gum chewing always made a point. Sometimes he 

would chew it so fast I didn’t know how his jaws could hold 

up. Usually this happened during close or bad games, or when 

he didn’t appreciate an official’s call. But he was always 

seemed to have gum in his mouth. The bottom line is Jerry 

was a good man, coach, and teacher, and he attributed to a lot 

of positive characteristics in his students, teachers, and team.

Skit Performed in a Pep Assembly by PBL 

Faculty and Staff 

By Connie Cook, former English teacher at PBL 

On the first day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

You got to be hosin’ me! 

On the second day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

You rotten rummies 


On the third day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

You big lumix (lummox) 



On the fourth day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

Let’s do some rippen 




On the fifth day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

You big studs! 





On the sixth day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

Do you have any relatives in LeRoy 






On the seventh day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

Stop rattling that cellophane 







On the eighth day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

You’re rotten walk’n 








On the ninth day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

You guys are so darn good 









On the tenth day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

Rotten wimp pads 










On the eleventh day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

Quit dinking around 











On the twelfth day of practice, Coach Zim said to me 

Can you gut another one out, Coach 

Quit dinking around 










You got to be hosin’ me!

FRIEND 

News-Gazette 

November 4, 1999 

Prep Insider 

Wonder why Jerry Zimmerman was and still is such a popular 

figure at Paxton-Buckley-Loda 

Bob Hanson can tell you. 

Hanson, a 1954 Paxton High grad and serious 

Illinois fan, received a surprise visit from Zimmerman the 

Monday after the UI’s upset of Michigan. Zimmerman made 

the trip from Paxton to Chicago with copies of The News- 

Gazette’s sport section detailing the Illini’s win, hoping to 

cheer up a good friend. The gesture overwhelmed the 63-year 

old Hanson, who’s battling cancer. 

“He said he would stay for 10 minutes if that’s all the time I 

wanted, and we ended up talking for three hours,” said 

Hanson, who regularly attended PBL football games when 

Zimmerman coached. “Nobody drives all the way to see one 

person, but Zim is a special person.” 

Hanson had a route as a News-Gazette paper boy 

as a youth. His father, TED, and three bothers were huge PBL 

boosters. 

“Bob was very surprised to see him,” said Bob Hanson’s wife, 

Barb. “As Bob said, to go that far out of the way to come and 

see him that shows what kind of person he is.” 

Clint Forsyth (retired teacher/coach) 

Back in 1979, Jerry was instrumental in hiring me as Paxton’s 

Head Football Coach. Zim was the A.D. and also coached 

with me. We enjoyed great times, whether it was getting to 

the playoffs our first year together, each being able to coach 

our sons or our trips to Indianapolis to pick up game films… 

Little did I know that 27 years later I would, sadly, have the 

honor and privilege to go before the PBL Board of Education 

and ask them to consider naming this football field after Jerry. 

Tonight it becomes a reality and I know Jerry would be very 

happy, yet humble for this special occasion. 

I also know that his family; namely, Barb, Christine, Vic, Lori, 

Luke, Ryan and Noah are very proud of their husband, father 

and grandfather tonight. 

Zim, thanks for the memories, from all of us. 



Jerry Zimmerman Field has a nice 

ring to it 

It would be good to hear the stadium and WPXN announcer 

say, "Welcome to Jerry Zimmerman Field" to open the 2006- 

07 season. 

I sincerely hope the PBL Board members act favorably on the 

suggestion from Clint Forsyth and others regarding naming 

the football field after him. 

It would be a great tribute to Zim. 

Harold Marlar. Paxton 

FAREWELL 



Dave Hinton 

Paxton-PBL alumni mourn passing 

of Jerry Zimmerman 

The Paxton/PBL High School fraternity lost one of its own 

early Saturday morning with the unexpected death of Jerry 

“Zim” Zimmerman. Zimmerman, 64, had retired at the end of 

the 1998-99 school year. 

To many graduates and area residents he will be known as the 

head coach during one of the football program’s most 

successful periods. But to many others he was known as a 

science and p.e. teacher and as PHS-PBL athletic director. 

He coached football for 34 years and compiled a head 

coaching record of 88-38. He was inducted into the Illinois 

High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Zimmerman, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Eureka 

College and a master’s degree from Illinois State University, 

began his teaching and coaching career at Paxton High School 

in 1963. He served his first two years as an assistant football 

coach under Pat Zuchowski. 

He served as an assistant under Norm Henderson from 1965 

until 1978 when Henderson resigned. 

Zimmerman stayed on as an assistant coach under Clint 

Forsyth, helping Paxton to a second-place finish in the Class 

2A state football playoffs. He resigned as assistant coach after 

that season. 

Zimmerman served as athletic director from 1978 until he 

retired. After his first retirement as a grid coach, he worked as 

a color man on Mustang football radio broadcasts. 

Stepped in to help 

After Forsyth resigned as head coach in 1987, Zimmerman 

recalled in a news article that Superintendent Charles Wood 

approached him about stepping in. “I couldn’t turn him 

down,” he said. “Charley had been so good to me.” It was the 

start of one of the most successful runs in area history. 

PBL produced the most wins among area schools during 

Zimmerman’s tenure as head coach in the 1990s. The 

Panthers made the playoffs nine of his 12 seasons as head 

coach and won the Sangamon Valley Conference tile six 

times. PBL advanced to the state semifinals twice. 

But while he produced a program that won games, many 

remembered him for the sportsmanship he taught his players. 

"When you're talking about winning and losing, of course 

that's important, but more importantly, he teaches our students 

how to be gentlemen, not only on the football field but on the 

volleyball court and the basketball court and in life," PBL 

High School Principal Jim Flaherty said after news that 

Zimmerman would retire at the end of the 1998-99 school 

year. "That's what his true strength is," Flaherty said. "That's 

why it's so devastating. He practices what he teaches.” 

Close to students 

Zimmerman was close to many PHS-PBL students. As 

evidence, all of the people he prearranged to serve as his 

pallbearers or honorary pallbearers are former students of the 

high school.

Zimmerman frequently spoke to his players about showing 

opponents respect. He even talked about how celebrate a 

touchdown and not to show boat or rub it in. 

PBL was so dominant during many of those years that the 

Panthers would have had many opportunities to rub it in. 

One example came during a game against a perennial 

doormat. With the game well in hand and one of the Panther 

running backs among the area leaders in rushing, he called the 

player over and told him to run the ball but not to score. The 

running back burst through the line for a long gain and with no 

one within 5 yards of him, he veered to the sideline and 

stepped out of bounds at the 1. 

While coaching football, he missed only one game. In 1978, 

with the Mustangs ranked No. 1 in the state and playing 

Monticello, he was forced to miss the game by a stint in the 

hospital. 

He didn’t stay away from PBL football following his 

retirement. He was frequently seen on the sidelines of Panther 

games. 

Zimmerman also served as an assistant basketball coach for 14 

years under Larry Smith and coached track. In addition to 

teaching biology, he taught physical education for about 30 

years. 

News-Gazette 


JEFF MEZYDLO’S lNSlDER 

RANDOM THOUGHTS 

THE LOSS OF A LEGEND 

I never met Jerry Zimmerman in person, but it's obvious the 

man was something special to a lot people, not only in the 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda family, but throughout East Central 

Illinois. The long-time PBL coach died Saturday at age 64. 

Tuscola coach Stan Wienke was an admirer of Zimmerman 

and like many was in shock after hearing of his passing. “I 

feel bad for the family and for the world because he's a great 

guy,” Wienke said. 

Pantagraph 


By Randy Kindred 

'Zim' reminder of what teacher, 

coach should be 

We sat in a weight room at PBL High School, discussing why, 

after 33 years as a football coach and biology teacher, Jerry 

Zimmerman was still at it. 

We talked about supervising workouts three nights a week in 

the swelter of July, and Zimmerman’s only real demand as 

players filtered in and out to lift weights. 

That is, for a half-hour during his four hours amid the benches 

and barbells, Zimmerman would select the music to be played 

on the portable stereo. “I always play Ike and Tina Turner,” 

he said, smiling. “(The players) have never heard of Ike, and 

Tina was 18 years old at the time it was recorded.” Invariably, 

Zimmerman’s choices led to laughter and good-natured 

interaction with the linebackers, safeties, etc., in the room. 

Some may have wondered if he was crazy … this friendly guy 

with the easy grin and gray around the temples. 

All the while, coach “Zim” was drawing them in, developing a 

bond and rapport that would make PBL a trusting, cohesive 

unit when the games rolled around. 

“Fresh” Approach 

“We’re not coaching football. We’re coaching kids.” 

Zimmerman said on that 1998 day, his dark eyes dancing. 

“It’s always fresh, because it’s fresh kids. 

“When you’re dealing with 14 to 19 year olds, you have to be 

one of them (musical taste aside). When I grow up, it’s going 

to be scary.” We’re still waiting. 

Zimmerman’s death Nov. 12 doesn't change that. For 

generations of families in and around his beloved Paxton, he 

will always be the upbeat teacher/coach who cared enough to 

make them feel special, yet part of something far greater than 

themselves. His guiding hand, keen instincts and quick wit 

inspired success, discouraged failure and molded 

impressionable teenagers into productive adults. 

Consider it the 64-year-old Zimmerman's greatest triumph, 

despite the many he achieved on the gridiron. 

Exit strategy 

He did so with his passion, enthusiasm and football program - 

the Panthers were 10-2 in his final season – still at high levels. 

We should all be Jerry Zimmerman, loving what we do until 

the very last day we do it. To him, that was thanks enough, 

and he wanted no part of a grand sendoff. 

Zimmerman's retirement coincided with that of his wife, Barb, 

who was a Ford County probation officer. Asked how they 

planned to spend it, he replied, "We have a list of about 50 

things we want to do … all pretty small potatoes." 

It made perfect sense for the son of an implement dealer who 

grew up in Eureka salivating over sports. Zimmerman built a 

career - his life, really around sincerity, simplicity and smalltown 

values, all with a disarming warmth and compassion. 

There was even a soft spot in his heart for the media, which 

Pantagraph sportswriter Randy Sharer discovered while 

covering one of Zimmerman's games in 1996. With deadline 

approaching, Randy was having difficulty sending his story to 

the office because of PBL's phone setup. So, at the coach's 

urging, it was off to Zimmerman's house, where the 

connection was made. You wouldn’t expect that of a coach 

whose team just lost 34-8 to Leroy, spoiling homecoming and 

ending a 29-game conference winning streak. 

Yet, with this coach – this man – you learned to expect 

nothing less. 




Zimmerman will be sorely 

missed by many 

I was very saddened to hear the news about one of my favorite 

people in Paxton. 

Coach Zimmerman was a teacher, coach, family friend and 

mentor. He was someone who could quickly see value in the 

people he touched, what they offered as individuals to excel, 

whether in a team or individual situation. 

He was a valued friend of my father (Robert Rohlfing, 

deceased) and mother (Mary Rohlfing).

I recently saw Coach at a memoria1 service in Paxton, and we 

had a chance to visit. The last time I saw Coach was at my 

father's funeral. It was good to see him, and as always he had 

something to share. Coach was always a very thoughtful and 

kind man. 

He will surely be missed, not only by his family but also by 

those whose lives he influenced. I am fortunate to have had 

him as influencer in my life. He will be surely missed 

David Rohlfing 

Chicago 

News-Gazette 

November 2005 

Letters to The Editor 

Coach Zimmerman 

left a great legacy 

I graduated from Paxton High School in 1968. At that time, 

Coach Jerry Zim was one of the young teachers the students 

liked and admired. 

After graduating, the next contact I had with him was at a 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda vs. St. Joseph-Ogden football game 

when former cheerleaders were asked to return to cheer. At 

50 years old I went up to him like a schoolgirl, told him who I 

was and asked if he remembered me, He gave me that big 

smile and said, “Of course you were one of my favorite 

students.” I know he probably didn't remember me, but he 

sure made me feel special again. 

Two years ago, I again came into contact with Coach 

Zimmerman through his son, Vic, who is superintendent at St. 

Joseph-Ogden High School. As a senior, my son felt strong1y 

about an issue at the school. He approached Dr. Zimmerman 

about taking the matter before the school board. I will never 

forget the time he spent with my son listening to his concerns. 

I especially remember my son standing before the board after 

delivering a speech with information he had researched and 

worked on harder than anything he had done during his high 

school years. The members of the board sat stone-faced with 

no comment. Dr. Zimmerman thanked my son for his 

concerns and for the manner in which he had presented them. 

As I read the tributes in The News-Gazette, I realized Jerry 

Zimmerman wasn't just our Coach Zimmerman, who left 

behind former students, athletes, colleagues and umpires 

but he was also a father who left a legacy of caring for young 

people in education through his children and grandchildren. 

His legacy lives on. My sincerest sympathy to the 

Zimmerman family. 

Kathy (Miller) Cearlock 

Ogden 

The News-Gazette 


We asked readers for their favorite 

memories of former Paxton-Buckley-Loda 

football coach and IHSA Hall of Famer 

Jerry Zimmerman, who funeral was Tuesday 

in Paxton. Some of the many responses: 

■”I grew up neighbors with the Zimmermans and also played 

football for Coach Zimmerman for four years. My fondest 

memory was standing in the cold rain at Gilman watching my 

son play freshman football and turning to my father and 

saying, ‘Is that Zim coming our way’ Sure enough, he came 

walking over to us wearing his White Sox hat and grinning 

(like he always did) wanting to know how my son Cody was 

doing. The thought he came all that way to stand with us in 

the rain really touched me. Coach Zimmerman has always 

been a big influence in my life and will be dearly missed.” 

Dan Marlar, Paxton 

■”The fake golf swing. All through class, during practicals … 

all the time. It was great.” Debi Meents, Paxton 

■”Coach Zimmerman was a great guy to work for as an 

official. A few years ago at a basketball regional fans of two 

teams had had a few fights in the stands in the previous 

meetings between them. Zim had his football players 

positioned at video cameras in six locations of the gym and 

warned the crowd that they were being taped and any 

inappropriate behavior would be prosecuted to the fullest 

extent of the law. I spoke to him and said that he really had 

things well in hand and that this would be a great deterrent. 

He smiled and said it better be a good deterrent because there 

was no film in the cameras and that it way just a ploy to scare 

some sense into those fans and to get his football players into 

the game for free! What a great guy. He will be missed.” 

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa 

■”I’ve known Jerry for 32 years, and sometimes when you 

hear of a sudden death you think, ‘Gosh, if they had only done 

… etc.’ But Zim did it all! Our family loved him and will 

miss him terribly!” Suzie Breymeyer, Paxton 

■”I didn’t have the pleasure of working a lot with Mr. 

Zimmerman. I got to know him when he would sub here at 

PBL High School. He just subbed here two weeks ago for one 

of our science teachers. I sit in on that class as an inclusion 

teacher. I was walking around helping some of the students 

with their assignment. Mr. Zimmerman goes, 'Alex, don't 

help them with that! Otherwise, they will be calling you up on 

their wedding night wanting to know what to do.' I got such a 

kick out of him and his hilarious comments. He was much 

respected here at PBL by the students and the school staff. It 

was a great pleasure to work with him the few times I did.” 

Alex Goudy, Paxton 

■"I was at my daughter's track meet. I was in the infield with 

her, and Jerry sent an official over to remove me from the 

field, so 1 started packing up my things, and the track official 

told me I really didn't have to leave, it was a joke. He pointed 

to the man who sent him over, and I look over to where Zim 

was and he was grinning at me." Judy Marlar, Paxton 

■"When 1 coached with Zim, I was always amazed at how he 

would motivate kids. One day, I looked over at the linemen 

and they were pretending to score touchdowns and then 

handing the ball off to the referee. The linemen that were not

scoring but standing were all cheering loudly as each man 

scored, then got up and handed the ball to the referees. I asked 

why he was doing this. He said he wanted everyone to know 

the joy of scoring a touchdown, to hear the crowd yell for 

them, and he wanted them to act like it was not a putdown of 

their opponent, but rather a reflection of getting their job done. 

Doing anything other than simply handing the ball off was 

showboating and disrespecting the opponent and the game.” 

Don Shields, Paxton 

■”Throwing that bright gold PBL cap as high and as far as he 

could on the sideline when a play or call upset him. He was 

an exceptional coach and biology teacher.” 

Janice Crank, Paxton 

■”Jerry was great to deal with as a high school coach – always 

willing to run a couple of extra plays or whatever you needed 

to get the video for your story. He knew the game was about 

the kids, and he let them have fun. And as much as he loved 

high school football, he was a HUGE Illini fan. Sorry to hear 

of his passing. He will definitely be missed. Scott 

Musgrave, Phoenix 

■"I teach girls' PE at PBL, and Zim was a sub for 

the boys' PE class often. He had a special connection with 

students. He didn't try to overpower them with a loud, stern 

voice. He used common sense and logic to every situation. He 

would challenge the boys to do something they thought to be 

impossible, and if they reached the goal he would do such 

things as pushups for their reward. The students loved to see a 

60 year-old man down on his hands and feet doing pushups to 

their count. Plus, they loved the fluorescent orange/pink 

jumpsuit he wore to sub in. He and his outfits will be missed 

greatly!" Samantha Lee, Paxton 

■"I have two: "You got to be rotten kidding me!' (He had all 

kinds of great sayings); and his grin. He had a great smile.” 

Lisa Batte, Paxton 

■"I was Zim's secretary for about 12 years. I have 

too many wonderful memories to tell them all. Zim was a 

class act. It was an honor to know him." Mary Parsons, 

Paxton 

The Zimmermans 

FAMILY 

News-Gazette 

Commentary 

January 1, 2006 

Vic Zimmerman 

Dad’s life lessons touched son, 

many others 

More than a month ago, I received the call that no son wants 

to receive from his mother. It was the call where Mom says 

that Dad has passed away. It was quite a shock to all of us as 

Dad was just three days short of his 65th birthday. 

My father, Jerry Zimmerman, wasn’t on earth long enough. 

His dad had died that same way at 57 years old. He told me 

once that he felt he was living on bonus years once he made it 

past the age of his dad’s passing. A heart attack.. One day he 

was fine, and the next he was gone. 

It’s a good way to go if you have to go. I bet I heard that more 

than 100 times during the last month. That’s OK because of 

the many other stories I heard from former students, athletes, 

coaches, referees, teachers, parents and family members 

during that same time. 

You see, dad had taught and coached in the Paxton-Buckley- 

Loda school district for 37 years. In this day it is rare for 

someone to stay in the same job for that long. I don’t think 

that dad ever saw it as a job, he just loved it. He had a very 

happy and fulfilling life. He got to work with every parent’s 

most precious asset, their children. He got to work with them 

in the classroom and on the field during their teen years and he 

felt like a teenager himself. He enjoyed each and every day. 

He was constantly learning from the young people he was 

teaching and coaching. How many of us get to spend 50 years 

of our life as a teenager 

Dad wrote these words to be read at his funeral, mostly for his 

grandsons Luke, Ryan and Noah. I read them at the funeral, 

but I thought that he wouldn’t mind my sharing them for 

everyone else. These are his life lessons. 

Row 1 (l to r): Luke, 

Jerry, Noah, Ryan, 

Chris 

Row 2 (l to r): Lorie, 

Vic, Barb

Football was his favorite sport for the fact that it was the 

ultimate team game. He loved playing it, coaching it, 

watching it and studying it. It is a game where you must rely 

on your teammates to be successful. It takes 11 men to move 

the ball down the field and it takes 11 more to stop it. The 

most important player on the field is the 11th man. A team is 

only as good as their weakest link. Good coaches will always 

spot the 11th man and attack him. If you are the 35th man on 

a 35-man team and you are in the game, then you are the 

benchmark. 

Dad believed in the team concept so strongly that he never 

gave out individual awards at the end of the season. He never 

gave out helmet decals for individual plays because there are 

no individual plays in football. If a player was named to an allstar 

team it was not considered an individual honor. That 

player was simply chosen to accept the award on behalf of his 

team. 

Dad was proud at his induction into the Illinois Football 

Coaches Hall of Fame. He was accepting the award on 

behalf of the players, coaches, students and all members of the 

PBL family. He knew it wasn't an award to an individual but 

to a program and all those involved in it. 

Always respect your teammates, your opponents, and officials. 

"The name of the game is hit." It is inherent the game of 

football that you hit. That is why you chose to play the game. 

If you don't want to hit, then take up chess (he did play a lot of 

chess). 

Dad's teams always hit, but they also practiced what to do 

after the hit. Love the moment; celebrate in an understated 

manner and with your teammates. Each player practiced how 

to act after a hit or after a score. Be happy, be excited and 

always be respectful. Winning is important, that's why we 

keep score, but when you walk off the field the most important 

thing is for everyone to feel good about themselves including 

your opponents. Always show class, win or lose. Respect 

before, during and after the game. 

I have heard the story many times of how if his teams had a 

big lead, he would tell his running back to run out of bounds 

instead of scoring a touchdown at the end of the game. Dad 

did not like to shut out an opponent, either. He knew that it 

made the other team feel good if they scored a touchdown. 

Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do when you are 

supposed to it. Dad's approach was the same in the classroom 

as it was on the football field. There is no free ride, pay your 

dues. Don't miss class, don't miss practice, don't be late. No 

alibis, no excuses, only reasons. If what we do here isn't 

important to your success then we shouldn't be here. Work 

when it's time to work, play when it's time to play, never mix 

the two. When someone asked him, "How are you" His 

response was always "almost perfect." 

I had heard my dad called many things over the years, and 

many were repeated to me in the days following his passing: 

J.Z., Zim, Coach but also mentor, legend, icon, molder of 

men, difference maker and hero. Hopefully, these are words 

that come to mind when all of us think about our dads. To me 

he was just Dad. 

He left his mark on many people. 

We will all miss him. 

JERRY 

ZIMMERMAN 

FIELD AT I-57 

STADIUM 

NOVEMBER 16, 2005, AT THE 

PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA BOARD 

MEETING 

Clint Forsyth addressed the board regarding naming the 

football field after Gerald Zimmerman. He was a long time 

teacher/coach and avid fan of the PCHS and PBL school 

districts since 1964. 



Dave Hinton 

IT’S TIME TO PROPERLY 

HONOR ZIMMERMAN 

When Jerry Zimmerman retired from coaching 

football and teaching at PBL back in the late '90s, a Record 

staffer told him it was time to properly honor him by naming 

the football field after him. 

The man they called "Zim" didn't want any part of 

it. He knew what animosities can spring forth through 

jealousy when such honors are bestowed. 

But with Zim's untimely passing Saturday morning 

at his home, just a stone's throw from the field, the 

time has come. It's time to change the name of the football 

complex from the unofficial and bland moniker of "1-57 

Stadium" to "Jerry Zimmerman Stadium" or "Jerry 

Zimmerman Field." How about naming it for a legend rather 

than a highway Who better to name it for than the man who 

stalked the Paxton/PBL sidelines for 30 years Zim wasn't 

known in just the communities of Loda, Buckley, Roberts and 

of the Paxton. He was a friend to many coaches and fans 

throughout the area. Mention Paxton Mustang or PBL Panther 

football to many and Zimmerman’s name emerges. 

Zimmerman told of stopping by a LeRoy restaurant a week 

before the annual rivalry match with the LeRoy Panthers. A 

worker behind the counter didn’t skip a beat when she spotted 

Zimmerman. She recognized him immediately 

and told Zim, "Coach, we’re gonna kick your (cans) Friday 

night." Taken aback by the comment, he paused for a moment 

and responded with, "As if. ..." Later, he said he was so 

surprised by the comment he didn't know what to say and 

wished he had come up with a better retort. (His Panthers 

delivered the best reply that Friday, crunching LeRoy.) 

It was obvious area fans knew the man who directed the 

football team at Paxton. He was a valued assistant under Pat 

Zuchowski, Norm Henderson and Clint Forsythe before taking 

the head coaching reins.

Like any coach, Zimmerman hated losing. Ideal evidence of 

that came after a last-second loss to St. Joseph-Ogden. 

Zimmerman was speechless, a look of utter desolation on his 

face. 

Winning could also take its toll. One Saturday after a stirring 

win over Watseka the night before, Zimmerman was seen in 

Champaign with his wife, Barb, prior to an Illinois football 

game. He looked exhausted. He said he had hardly slept that 

night. Adrenaline will do that. Many people don’t know the 

toll coaching takes. Not only are there the gut-wrenching 

games, there are the “meetings” with parents over playing 

time and how their children are being treated. It takes a 

special type of person to put up with such distractions. For 

many coaches, it’s simply the love of the game that keeps 

them going. 

Because of the many lives he touched as coach, teacher, 

athletic director and friend, it's time to give "Zim" the 

recognition he deserves. It's time to name the stadium for 

Zimmerman. We could call it "The Zim” for short. 

NO doubt Zim will be there in spirit at games, walking the 

sidelines to see a how the Panthers are doing. And when PBL 

wins a close one, maybe, just maybe, there might be a thought 

or two that the Panthers had a little extra help that night. 




For those of you who did not have the privilege of meeting 

Gerald “Zim” Zimmerman, I truly feel that you missed the 

opportunity of a lifetime. I had the honor of being Jerry’s 

secretary at Paxton and Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School for 

twelve years. After his retirement we remained friends. I 

would stop by his home unexpectedly and would be welcomed 

with open arms by both Zim and his wife, Barb. One day last 

summer he was on campus picking up a football media guide 

and he took the time to look me up at my new job at the 

University of Illinois. He wanted to see where I worked and 

wanted to see if I was happy. Zim was one of the best. 

Jerry had a special way with people. He made me feel like I 

was his best friend each and every time I talked with him. 

Jerry had that gift, making everyone feel important. Even if a 

player was the very last player to get into the game, Jerry had 

a way of making them feel very much a part of the team. How 

many coaches do you know today that have that quality 

Students were never given a free ride in his classroom. They 

earned every grade they received. Never did he have a 

discipline problem. Mr. Zimmerman demanded and got 

respect from his students and his players. One of the reasons 

why he had their respect was because they knew he respected 

each and every one of them. Never once did he send a 

student to the office to be disciplined by someone else. He 

never had to. Not only did Mr. Zimmerman’s students learn 

about biology and football, they learned a lot about life, as did 

the rest of us who knew him. 

Jerry was always a professional. He always gave his best and 

he expected the best from you. Zim was one of the fairest 

men I have ever known. He knew how to treat kids. He knew 

how to treat adults. If I ever had a problem, I knew I could 

count on Jerry to help me sort it out. I would go talk to him 

and he had a way of making me see the situation from all 

sides. He had a special way of helping you figure out what 

you needed to do or most importantly, what not to do. 

Zimmerman Field has a great sound to it. It makes me think 

of respect, honor and team. 

When you walked on the field as a member of the Paxton or 

PBL football team coached by Zim you competed fairly, to the 

best of your ability, and with respect for your opponent that 

day. When the game was over, you took those same 

characteristics and values out to the community. If every 

person who comes to our field sees the name Zimmerman and 

remembers what he stood for, our little corner of the universe 

can be like Zim’s when he was asked "How are you doing” 

Almost Perfect. 

Mary Parsons, Paxton 



Zimmerman deserves field named 

for him 

To the community, I agree with the people who have written 

in. Jerry Zimmerman IS Paxton Mustang/PBL Panthers 

football. Our family loved him as a friend, respected him as a 

teacher and will miss him terribly. I think it is a fitting tribute 

to name the football field after him and only wish he could be 

here with us to see it happen. 

He never played favorites, commanded great respect and 

people wanted to be like him. He was a great prankster and 

had a language that was all his own. I hope the school board 

gives this their greatest consideration, and I have a feeling that 

Mr. Z. is looking down on all of this and saying, "You've got 

to be rotten hosing me!" 

Suzie Breymeyer, Paxton 

News-Gazette 

By Meg Thilmony 

Effort made to honor former coach - 

High school football field will be 

named after Jerry Zimmerman, 

who died in November 

The football field at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School will 

now be called the Jerry Zimmerman Field at 1-57 Stadium in 

memory of the former beloved coach and teacher. 

Mr. Zimmerman died Nov. 12 at age of 64. He had been at 

Paxton High School and then Paxton-Buckley-Loda from 

1963 until he retired in 1999, teaching and coaching and 

serving as athletic director. He was inducted into the Illinois 

High School football coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. 

Superintendent Cliff McClure said the Zimmerman family told 

him they considered it a tribute. “They’ve given their 

blessing,” McClure said. The family asked the field retain the 

I-57 Stadium moniker as well because of Mr. Zimmerman’s 

fondness for it. 

Board President Mike Short said he received positive feedback 

from the community, especially because of Mr. Zimmerman’s 

caliber of sportsmanship and respect. 

“One gentleman stopped me and said, “If anyone epitomizes 

PBL athletics … it’s Jerry,” Short said.

Current PBL football coach Jeff Graham said he’s pleased his 

team’s home field will bear Mr. Zimmerman’s name. 

“He coached me and he was a teacher of mine,” Graham said. 

“It’s an honor for me to even coach on the same field. He 

means a lot to the community.” 

Mr. Zimmerman coached the Panthers to nine playoff 

appearances in 12 seasons. At the time of his death, High 

School Principal Jim Flaherty said the community had 

suffered a huge loss. "He was a marvelous teacher and a 

wonderful coach," Flaherty said in November. "I don't know if 

he realized he was a molder of men on that football 

field." 

Mr. Zimmerman was born and raised in Eureka. graduated 

from Eureka College and earned a Master’s degree at Illinois 

State University. The coach went 88-40 and twice guided 

PBL to the state semifinals. His teams won six Sangamon 

Valley Conference titles. 

The News-Gazette 

Jim Rossow 

A LIFE REMEMBERED 

Coach put town on the map 

Only a short walk separated Jerry Zimmerman’s house on 

Cherry Street and the football field at Paxton-Buckley-Loda 

High School. It’s stroll he made many a time, even after he 

retired as coach in 1998. 

“After he retired, he’d come through the houses and come in 

the far gate and sit on the timer’s stand at the track, away from 

people, and just watch,” PBL athletic director John Overstreet 

said. “He didn’t want to be in the spotlight when he got out of 

coaching. But he was still interested in what was going on. 

Zimmerman, a former PBL athletic director who coached the 

Panthers to nine playoff appearances in 12 seasons, died at 

home Saturday. He was 64. 

“The community is in shock. This is a huge loss,” PBL 

Principal Jim Flaherty said. “He was a marvelous teacher and 

a wonderful coach. "I don't know if he realized he was a 

molder of men on that football field. 

Zimmerman, who was inducted into the IHSA Hall of Fame in 

2000, went 88-40 and twice guided PBL to the state 

semifinals. His teams won six Sangamon Valley Conference 

titles. 

“Nothing bad you can say about him, whether you met him on 

the football field or basketball court or uptown, said former 

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley athletic director Jack Cowgill, a 

friend of Zimmerman’s. “The kids he coached respected him - 

you're doing something right when that happens." 

A 22-year assistant, Zimmerman turned PBL into a playoff 

regular. A biology teacher, he also coached basketball and 

served as AD. 

“I about dropped the phone when I heard today. He was truly 

a living legend,” said Mike Brehm, a junior high cross country 

coach in Paxton and family friend. “Something people don’t 

realize is how good of a teacher he was.” 

Overstreet, who played for Zimmerman and later coached with 

Zimmerman, took over as AD when he retired. 

“The kids, the community, the parents all loved him,” 

Overstreet said. “He was definitely one who put us on the 

map.” 

Gerald E. Zimmerman 

Nov. 16, 1940 – Nov. 12, 2005 

The dates on Jerry’s tombstone represent the 

beginning - to the end. 

First came the date of his birth, 

but what mattered most of all 

was the dash between those years. 

For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on 

earth 

and now only those who loved him know what that little 

line is worth. 

For it matters not, how much we own; 

the cars…the house…the cash. 

What matters is how we live and love… 

and how we spend our dash. 

So think about this long and hard; 

are there things you’d like to change 

For you never know how much time is left that can still be 

rearranged. 

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true 

and real… 

and always try to understand the way other people feel. 

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more 

and love the people in our lives…like we’ve never loved 

before. 

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a 

smile… 

Remembering that this special dash might only last awhile. 

So, when your eulogy is being read…with your life’s 

actions to rehash… 

Would you be proud of the things they say… about how 

you spent your dash

GOOD LUCK 

COACH ZENNER 

News-Gazette 

August 9, 2006 

Jeff Mezydlo 

Time is now for ‘Zen’ master 

Longtime aide begins new office 

with practice today 

The office Jim Zenner calls his own on the second floor at 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda High is no bigger than a janitor’s closet. 

It might have been one in the past. 

It’s filled with books on everything from defensive football 

schemes to the rules of the road. There’s room for a computer 

and a chair, but little else. Zenner, the longtime PBL driver’s 

education teacher and former assistant football coach during 

the glory years of the 1990s, is fine with his friendly confines. 

“There’s not much to it,” said Zenner, who has more on his 

mind that finding a few more inches in his cubby hole. 

At 50, most prep football coaches have either retired or 

consider it. For Zenner, it’s a beginning. Zenner will blow 

the whistle for the first time as a head coach this morning 

when the Panthers – along with every other program in the 

state – officially begin practice for the 2006 season. 

Zenner spent 10 years as an assistant to late PBL coaching 

legend Jerry Zimmerman. The two were inseparable, known 

as “Zim and Zen.” Former students still call Zenner “Mr. 

Zennerman.” 

A few days before Zimmerman passed away at the age of 64 

in November, Zimmerman’s wife Barb told Zenner, who with 

Zimmerman retired from coaching in 1998, her husband 

thought Zenner should get back into coaching. 

Back to the front 

Zim and Zen won 75 football games in nine seasons coaching 

the PBL consolidation. Zenner was the mastermind of the 

Panthers’ successful Wing-T offense. 

The Panthers made the playoffs nine straight years. PBL 

reached the semifinals twice (1993 and 1995), losing by a 

combined three points. In the coaches’ last season together, 

PBL went 10-2 and lost in the quarterfinals. When 

Zimmerman thought it was time to put the playbook in the 

locker for good, Zenner went along. 

“We were always associated with each other,” said Zenner, 

who worked at Buckley-Loda High before teaming with 

Zimmerman for the Paxton co-op and then the new school in 

the early 1990s. “And that was OK with me. I always joke 

that Jerry only wanted me because he needed somebody to 

drive the bus (of B-L players) over here.” 

Zenner was fine with retirement, being there for his children. 

He never thought about returning to the sidelines, especially as 

a head coach, until Barb Zimmerman explained her husband’s 

thoughts. Zenner acted upon it after losing his dear friend. 

“He was a really good friend, and it really hurt,” a teary-eyed 

Zenner said. “Then I was line, “I’ll do anything (the football 

program) wants. Whether it be scouting, coaching the 

freshmen, whatever. I didn’t need to get back into it, but I’m 

not doing anybody a favor. I’m doing what I want to do.” 

When recent PBL coach Jeff Graham took an administrative 

position within the district and resigned as coach, Zenner 

threw his name in the hat and ultimately won the job. Some 

might think the Panthers are trying to relive the past and wake 

up the echoes of past glory. 

Zenner’s hiring was not meant to do that. 

“He knows the tradition; he knows the town,” PBL athletic 

director John Overstreet said. “He’s very enthusiastic about 

this. We liked his interest in the job, and it was a chance to 

bring consistency to the program.” 

Together forever 

PBL has reached the playoffs three times but has not won a 

post-season game since 1998. The Panthers have been 

outscored 135-32 in their last three playoff games. Fans are 

hungry for the program to take the next step, and the 

administration felt – even though he hasn’t coached in almost 

10 years – that Zenner’s philosophies and ties to the program 

could inject more life into a program looking to put its name 

up with the St. Joseph-Ogdens and Unitys. 

“Out first job is to be in every game and have a chance to 

win,” Zenner said. “(Fans) look back more fondly (on the 

winning years) more than they should. I think they associate 

that with me, and I’m not sure that’s right.” 

Zenner has some talent in senior quarterback Tyler Overstreet 

and running back Evan Edwards. His goals are simple. 

They’re the same things he learned many years back from his 

pal Zim. 

“I don’t want to let him down,” Zenner said. “We always 

want to give our kids the best possible chance we can to win. 

I’ve never walked on a field thinking we did not have a chance 

to win. And I told them that. We’ll do that again.” 

Some have told him this is the start of the Zenner era at PBL. 

Zenner laughed when mentioning it. He’s not about personal 

glory, just about doing what he believes is the best for his 

players, in the manner he learned from his mentor. 

“In my heart I’m always going to be coaching with 

(Zimmerman),” said Zenner. “If things go well, I know where 

my background is and who gets the credit. I never worry 

about myself.” 

1997 

Visions - Oh, the Places the 

Panthers will go! 

Z is for the wisemen 

Zenner, Zim and Zick 

Without them our sports teams 

could never click!

Hall of Fame - Paxton - Buckley

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