SYRACUSE -- United States military veterans and Syracuse University football letterwinners Bill Coghill, who will be honored posthumously, and Norm Mordue will be honored with the 2009 Zunic Award on Friday, September 4. The Syracuse Football Club will pay tribute to both men with the award, which recognizes friends of SU football who exhibit the courage and spirit of Mike and Judy Zunic and have overcome some of life’s tough plays.

The Zunic Award was established in May of 2001 to honor Mike ’81 and Judy Zunic who died tragically on July 19, 1989 when a United Airlines flight crashed in Sioux City, Iowa. Responding to the pilot’s request for strong armed volunteers to sit on the exit doors in anticipation of a crash landing, Mike and Judy gave up their seats in first class to sit on the exit door to assist other passengers upon the landing. Mike and Judy died in the crash and those seated in the Zunic’s original seating area survived.

A Veteran of the US Marine Corp, Coghill served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970 as a medic where he received two purple hearts. Following his injures and fulfilling his education, he went on to play professional football with the British Columbia Lions.  Coghill rescued a child named Ty from a Vietnam war zone and then had him moved from the combat area to a school, which Coghill paid for personally. Coghill also fed the village children with his left over c-rations and candy he purchased. After a while he became a favorite with the village children and they affectionately referred to Coghill as "Kim-shee - water-boo" which roughly translates to Dr. Water Buffalo.

Coghill was a defensive lineman who earned a letter in 1967 as a sophomore and went off to war after the season. He returned to Syracuse and rejoined the team for the 1970 and 1971 seasons.

After graduation, Coghill worked as a field archeologist in the Western United States and South America before returning to Albany to work with his family in the contracting business. He was a man of the outdoors and a lover of animals. He was a generous friend to all who knew him and a loving husband and father. Bill lived life on his own terms.

A native of Latham, N.Y., Coghill was the son of Genevieve Serafin Coghill and the late William S. Coghill. He attended Shaker High School and graduated from Deerfield Academy. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in anthropology and a Master’s degree from the University of Denver.

In addition to his loving wife Cynthia and mother Genevieve, he is survived by his four sons; Daniel (Mariko) Pollock, William Kent, Michael and Daniel Coghill, his sisters; Catherine (Nick) Nicholas and Cynthia (William) Garwig, his niece, two nephews and many friends. 

Following his completion of ROTC as a Distinguished Military Graduate and Distinguished Military Student, Mordue was commissioned into the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. After the Infantry Officers Basic Course, he reported to his platoon in C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, First Air Cavalry Division. While leading his platoon in the Republic of Vietnam, Lieutenant Mordue was awarded our Nation’s second highest military honor, the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism, and the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor for “courageous leadership and tenacious devotion to duty.” He was medically retired as a Captain in 1968 as a result of wounds sustained in combat.

Mordue’s military decorations also include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, and various Campaign and Service Medals. He was a moving force in creating the Korea-Vietnam Memorial in downtown Syracuse, the first monument in the country dedicated to both the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts.

A native of Elmira, N.Y., Mordue was influenced to attend Syracuse University by Orange legend and 1961 Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, who was the first African American to win the honor. At Syracuse, head coach Ben Schwartzwalder converted Mordue from a high school quarterback to a running back, where he played for the 1964 Sugar Bowl team. Mordue earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics in 1966 and later returned to graduate from the SU College of Law in 1971.

After graduation, Mordue worked in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office for 10 years as a prosecutor. He worked his way up from law clerk to chief assistant District Attorney in charge of felony and homicide prosecutions, with a 100 percent conviction rate. He was elected Onondaga County Court Judge and served from 1983 to 1985 and then was elected a New York State Supreme Court Justice, a position he held for 13 years. He was also an adjunct professor in the Syracuse University College of Law, where he taught trial practice for eight years.

Mordue joined the Federal Bench on December 4, 1998 following his presidential Nomination and Senate Confirmation in October 1998. The Senate voted on Mordue’s nomination in just 16 days, the shortest time to confirm any judge during the entire Clinton administration.

In 2006, the Honorable Mordue became Chief United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York. As a lawyer he is a member of numerous state and local bar associations in addition to his recognition as the highest rated lawyer for competence and integrity by the Martindale-Hubble attorney rating service.

A Syracuse University LetterWinner of Distinction in 1990, Mordue is also enshrined in the Elmira Sports Hall of Fame and the Syracuse University ROTC Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2002, Mordue was presented the Distinguished American Award from The Central New York Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Mordue and his wife, Christina, have three children, Daniel, Jackie and Michael, and two grandchildren, Jennifer and Katie.

Mike Zunic was a four-year starter at linebacker and earned his BA in ’81 and master’s degree in ’82 both in speech communication. Mike was instrumental after graduation in assisting new head coach Dick MacPherson in bridging the gap between players from teams that played under three former Orange head coaches in Ben Schwartzwalder, Frank Maloney and MacPherson. Those eligible include current and former student-athletes, current and former coaches, parents of current and former players, season ticket holders, friends of and anyone associated with Syracuse Football.

Courtesy SU Athletics