Zollner was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and attended Purdue University. He was a successful businessman and owned a foundry that manufactured automotive parts. He was also a major contributor to the Fort Wayne community, donating money to local charities and causes.
In 1941, Zollner founded the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, a professional basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL). He was the first owner to sign African American players to a professional basketball team. He also hired the first African American coach in professional basketball, John McLendon.
Zollner was a strong advocate for the integration of professional basketball. He was also a strong supporter of the NBL and was instrumental in the merger of the NBL and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In 1957, Zollner moved the Pistons to Detroit, making them the first professional basketball team to move from the Midwest to the East Coast. He remained the owner of the Pistons until 1974, when he sold the team to Bill Davidson.
Throughout his career, Zollner was a major contributor to the growth of professional basketball. He was a pioneer in the integration of the sport and was a major advocate for the merger of the NBL and BAA. He was also the first owner to move a professional basketball team from the Midwest to the East Coast. Fred Zollner was a true pioneer in the world of professional basketball.
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