University of Tennessee Athletics
Former Vols from 1960s Era Die
November 08, 2011 | Football
Two Tennessee footballers from the 1960s era, Bob Zvolerin and Steve Wold, died last week.
Zvolerin, the starting left tackle on the 1963 squad, died Thursday, Nov. 3, at his home in Cleveland. Steve Wold, a journey man fullback in the late 1960s, died suddenly at his Atlanta apartment Saturday.
Zvolerin was a native of Windber, Pa., who earned football letters in both 1962 and 1963. He transferred from Pittsburg to Tennessee and earned a starting spot in the offensive line during his second season. Zvolerin was drafted in 1964 by the NFL's Washington Redskins in the 12th round, but instead chose a career in the U.S. Marine Corps over football. He continued playing football with the Marines in Quantico, Va.
Ending his military career as a captain, Zvolerin moved back to East Tennessee and taught and coached for 36 years at Cleveland High School and Bradley Central High School. He retired from Bradley Central as assistant principal.
Wold was a native of Port Orange, Fla., and lettered in 1969 and 1970 at the fullback slot. A solid performer who served primarily in a backup role to All-SEC performer Curt Watson both years, Wold had a 5.7-yard rushing average at career's end with 635 yards on 112 attempts.
Wold broke loose on an 82-yard gallop against Vanderbilt in 1969 that remains the longest non-scoring rushing play in UT history. It was the longest running play of that year and the third-longest at the time in school history. It remains 6th all-time on the Tennessee charts for longest rushing play.
