ZARNAS HISTORY
From Steel Town Roots to All-American Greatness
The story of Gust Zarnas is one of resilience, determination, and excellence. A rugged Greek immigrant raised in a Pennsylvania steel town during the Great Depression, Gust grew up in a tough environment that shaped his character and work ethic. Those qualities propelled him to earn a football scholarship at Ohio State University where he also enjoyed the company of Jesse Owens and also a great friend of Ohio State head football coach Woody Hayes.
A Football Legend
Gust became one of the football greats of his era – a time when players excelled by playing both offense and defense. In 1937, Gust Zarnas earned national recognition for his outstanding performance on the field. That same season, Gust was selected as an All-American, All Big Ten, and All-Mid-West Football Teams.
Gust went on to play for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers (winning a World Championship). Gust was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
1948
COATING THE FUTURE
After an illustrious football career, Gust returned to his roots and founded G.C. Zarnas & Co., Inc. in 1948.
With Bethlehem Steel as its first client, the Bethlehem, PA based company became a trusted partner to the steel industry, applying high-temperature and architectural coatings to some of America’s largest blast furnaces, stacks, process vessels, and storage tanks in Bethlehem, Sparrows Point, MD and Portage, IN.
For two decades, G.C. Zarnas helped to protect and preserve the very structures that powered the nation’s industrial backbone.
1977
Building powerful partnerships
As part of our growth strategy, G.C. Zarnas began diversifying and developing multi-million dollar partnerships with leading organizations in the power, refinery, and industrial gases industries.
Our reputation for safety, quality, and performance has earned us the trust of some of the most respected names in the sector.
1999
DELIVERING COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS
Building on its industrial expertise, G.C. Zarnas launched a dedicated Commercial Painting Division to deliver architectural solutions for new construction and maintenance projects. This division offers interior and exterior painting, fitouts, wallcoverings, preservation, and lead stabilization, all with a focus on cost efficiency and quality.
Targeting sectors such as higher education, vacation resorts, and amusement venues, the division combines craftsmanship with advanced techniques to meet the unique demands of large-scale facilities.
2001
SELECTED FOR FIREPROOFING EXPERTISE
G.C. Zarnas performs one of its first major fireproofing projects on UVA’s John Paul Jones Arena, the largest arena of its kind in VA, and profiled by Real Estate and Construction Review.
Our fireproofing services have expanded to include prestigious Ivy League institutions such as Lehigh University and Princeton University, new residential construction projects, and essential patchwork for parking garages—delivering safety and durability across diverse environments.
2007
Serving government and national security
G.C. Zarnas broadened its expertise beyond the steel industry to support critical government projects.
Highlights include work at NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant—projects that demanded precision, safety, and innovation at the highest level.
2016
Leaders in Tank Farm Maintenance
G.C. Zarnas continues to earn a strong reputation for excellence in maintaining refinery operations, thanks our leadership’s meticulous attention to detail and ability to deliver fast, reliable turnaround during critical shutdowns. This commitment ensures operations resume on schedule without compromising safety or quality.
These projects, including tank linings and exterior tank painting, are highly demanding and require the expertise of an industrial painting company able to work successfully in high-risk operations.
2020
WILDCAT-ZARNAS
an SBA SDVOSB Mentor Protégé Program Joint Venture
This robust joint venture brings together two powerful entities with a combined experience of over 100 years. Wildcat-Zarnas is privately owned and operated offering you the latest advancements in the application of high-performance and specialty coatings, industrial and commercial painting, tank linings, intumescent and cementitious fireproofing, and lead abatement.
2022
Zarnas Adds Concrete & Masonry…Strength Meets Preservation
G.C. Zarnas expands its capabilities with a dedicated Concrete and Masonry Repair & Restoration division, complementing our expertise in concrete and traffic coatings. This new service supports containment structures, parking garages, and the preservation of historical landmarks.
Our commitment to safety was recognized by the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) of Philadelphia, which awarded our concrete team the 2024 Contractor Award for “Safe Practices” during the replacement of a 13,000 sq. ft. elevated parking deck at Rodin Place.
G.C. Zarnas continues to invest in advanced safety technology, equipment, and training—modeling safe behavior on every job.
