Sept. 6, 2007
CHICAGO – Chris Zorich, two-time All-American defensive tackle at the University of Notre Dame, was one of 14 inductees recently named to the 2007 Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
A three-year starter at defensive tackle for the Irish, Zorich left Notre Dame as one of the most decorated defensive players in school history. He was a two-time All-American, earning unanimous first-team All-America accolades as a senior in 1990. Zorich was named United Press International Lineman of Year for 1989 and was chosen CBS Sports/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year for 1990. He was selected as the 1990 Lombardi Award recipient, given annually to the outstanding lineman in college football, and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy that year, too. Zorich started at nose tackle on the 1988 national championship team and finished his Notre Dame career with 219 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss.
Zorich was drafted in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft by Chicago and played for the Bears through the 1996 season. His stay in Chicago was highlighted in 1993 when he was named an alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl team. Zorich played for the Washington Redskins in 1997 before retiring from the NFL to pursue a law degree at Notre Dame.
Zorich graduated from Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies in 1991 and from the Notre Dame Law School in 2002.
A native of Chicago’s South Side, Zorich is president of the Christopher Zorich Foundation and is a past recipient of USA Weekend’s “Most Caring Athlete Award” and the Jesse Owens Foundation Humanitarian Award. The Foundation assists disadvantaged families through a variety of diverse activities and have affected over 100,000 individuals.
Zorich currently lives in Chicago where he works for the law firm of Schuyler, Roche & Zwirner, P.C.
The annual induction ceremony and dinner is scheduled for Thursday, September 13, 2007 at Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 S. Laramie in Stickney, Illinois. Cocktails will be served at 6:30 pm and dinner will follow at 7:30 pm.
The 2007 Inductees represent retired champions, current coaches and officials from a variety of professional and intercollegiate sports. The Class of 2007 is:
Bobby Rahal (Indy 500 3-time winner)
Casimar Banaszek (San Francisco 49ers)
Tony Barone (Memphis Grizzles)
Jerry Markbreit (NFL Referee)
Ron Sobie (DePaul-N.Y. Knicks)
Gary Korhonen (Richards High School)
Tommy O’Connell (Chicago Bears-Cleveland Browns)
Chris Zorich (Notre Dame-Chicago Bears)
Jim Clancy (Toronto Blue Jays)
Earlie Fires (Legendary Jockey)
Tom Monforti (DePaul University)
Jim O’Toole (Cincinnati Reds)
Dick Stanfel (Coach Chicago Bears)
Mike Conley (Olympic Champion)
The George Connor Lifetime Achievement Award for invaluable contribution to the game of football will be presented to Ted Hendricks (Oakland Raiders).
The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame is and Illinois non-for profit organization with proceeds benefiting Father John Smyth Standing Tall Foundation and other charities.
Former Chicago Bear ad popular sports broadcaster Mike Adamle will emcee the program. Individual tickets are $125 while a table costs $1,250. Program ads are available as well. For further information contact Howie Fagan at 708-780-3679 (office) or 708-426-5212 (cell).
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