All-Conference Defensive Team, 1961, 1962, 1963
Team Captain as senior, 1963
Member of 1962 conference champions
Drafted by NFL’s Detroit Lions
As a standout defensive back for Winona State during the 1960s, Bruce Zellmer has become a blueprint for future Warriors to follow. His example on and off the field is a model worthy of emulation.
At Winona State Zellmer was a four-year letterwinner on the gridiron, earning all-conference honors in each of his final three years on the field. He was a team captain and helped WSU to a conference title in 1962. He also played a season of both baseball and basketball for the Warriors.
After graduating with a B.A. in chemistry, Zellmer took his considerable talents to the professional level. He was drafted by the NFL’s Detroit Lions and was later traded to the Minnesota Vikings. He spent two seasons in the NFL before retiring and moving to the business world at 3M.
He worked as a research chemist for 3M, twice earning the Golden Step Award which is given to a product that reaches $2 million in sales during its first year. He also holds a U.S. patent, spending his career with 3M before retiring in 1999.
