Mr. Zerbe played football for Warren Area High School from 1935-37, and was also a 3-year letterwinner in basketball. His junior year, he was the starting point guard for the 1939 Dragon squad that captured the District 9 title. Willard was awarded a football grant-in-aid to attend Franklin & Marshall University, where he played for one season. He returned home and joined the Warren Red Jackets semi-pro football team and played from 1939-48. He taught many of Warren's youth the fundamentals of football, and was also an officer in the Hot Stove League for several years.
