In 1993, Captain Karl Zittel, USCG (ret), '32, established the Captain Karl Zittel Athletic Hall of Fame endowment to provide a perpetual source of income for the support of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy Athletic Hall of Fame Program. He was recognized as the Distinguished Philanthropist for this gesture in 1994 by the Alumni Association. Captain Zittel passed away on April 8, 1998. In his will, he designated that an additional, unrestricted endowment be established to benefit the general education purposes of the Academy. These two endowments have grown and have a combined value today in excess of $346,900 ensuring the continuity of the Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame program, as well as, educational support to the Dean of Academics.

At the July 2008 meeting of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, the board voted unanimously to change the name of the endowment supporting this event to the Captain Karl Zittel Athletic Hall of Fame and Alumni Awards Endowment. This endowment provides a perpetual source of income to fund the plaques and medallions being presented to our award recipients and associated dinner expenses for all honorees including the Wall of Gallantry.

Captain Karl Zittel, Class of 1932, had been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. The 1932 Tide Rips described Captain Zittel, “as an athlete, the most versatile the Corps has seen in many years.... a mighty bellow on the football field ... a tower of strength on the basketball court, a martinet on the drill field.” He was the Captain of the Football Team that finished 3-2 and 1 in 1931 and was the starting center for two years on the basketball team. Many of our more senior alumni will remember him as a former Head of the Academy’s Department of Professional Studies, Commanding Officer of EAGLE, and sea storyteller extraordinaire.

Captain Zittel was extremely proud of our Academy and the tradition of excellence that has always been a part of a Coast Guard Academy education. We believe he would be most pleased to know that his original gift has grown in such a way that it now recognizes not just past athletic achievements, but heroic service to our country, as well as, commitment and service to our Academy in a number of different ways. We at the Alumni Association will always be grateful for Captain Zittel’s outstanding generosity.