When Ron Kamzelski went to Baden-Economy Junior
High School in the early 1960s, the school did not have a football program.
So he got his start in the sport by playing on the first Baden
Redwing Midget football team. The Redwings were coached in those
days by Len Szafaryn, a former star lineman for the Green Bay
Packers. Apparently Len was a good teacher, because his protégé
quickly developed into an outstanding interior lineman himself. At
Ambridge High School, Ron was a starter from his sophomore year and
was a two way player on the line coached by Andy Radi.
Ron’s high school grid honors included All State first team
defensive tackle and Top 22 selection by the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, and he was picked to play in the 1965 Pennsylvania Big 33
Game. Ron was recruited by over 100 colleges but chose the
University of Minnesota, where he was a three year starter at
defensive tackle from 1966 to 1968. He was coached by Murray Warmath,
whose 1967 Golden Gophers were Big Ten
Conference co-champions. After his senior season, Ron was selected to play
in the Blue-Gray All Star Game and the annual East-West Shrine Game.
He was awarded the Henry L Williams Memorial Scholarship at
Minnesota in 1966 for scholastic and athletic proficiency, and he also
received the Golden Gopher Trophy for three years and was named All
Big Ten defensive tackle. Ron was drafted by the Cleveland
Browns of the NFL but decided to pass up professional football to
continue his education. He graduated from the University of
Minnesota School of Dentistry and has offices in Baden.
When Ron Kamzelski went to Baden-Economy Junior
High School in the early 1960s, the school did not have a football program.
So he got his start in the sport by playing on the first Baden
Redwing Midget football team. The Redwings were coached in those
days by