Thomas Ziemek
Class of 2004
Maine South
Tom Ziemek was born in Chicago and attended Loyola Academy in Chicago and later Maine Township High School in Park Ridge. He graduated in 1949 and went on to college at the University of Wyoming. In 1951 he transferred to Culver Stockton College in Canton, MO and graduated in 1953.
Upon college graduation, Tom was in the United State Army from 1953 to 1955. He then taught in Franklin Park from 1956 to 1958. In 1958, Tom returned to his Alma Mater at Maine East and was an assistant wrestling coach and assistant football coach. When Maine South High School opened in 1963, he became the Head Wrestling Coach and also was a freshman football coach. He coached at Maine South for twenty-six years until his death and had over 175 career wins. He coached six state qualifiers, including one State Champion and runner-up.
A memorial scholarship has been established in Tom Ziemek’s name since 1990 for a senior athlete from Maine South who best demonstrates the qualities that Tom modeled and demonstrated throughout his teaching and coaching career.