Born in Pennsylvania in 1930, Andrew Kozar enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1948. Over thirty years later, Dr. Kozar’s illustrious affiliation with the school as an athlete, alumnus, and educator had brought pride and distinction to the Knoxville campus. At UT, Kozar was an All-SEC fullback in 1952 and was also chosen as Red Grange’s All-American fullback. Upon graduating, Kozar entered the U.S. Army, serving as a company commander and physical training instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1955 he played one season with the Chicago Bears, before eventually returning to school at the University of Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. He was assistant professor of physical education for men at Michigan when he left to join the UT faculty in 1966. At UT, Dr. Kozar was chairman of men’s physical education from 1966 until 1974, and in 1975 he became executive assistant to President Edward J. Boling. In 1973 Dr. Kozar was instrumental in obtaining for the university the valuable collection of works by R. Tait McKenzie, one of the world’s foremost sculptors of athletes. Dr. Kozar’s book, “R. Tait McKenzie: The Sculptor of Athletes”, was published by the UT Press in 1975. In 1978 Dr. Kozar was honored by the NCAA when he was among five former student-athletes chosen to receive the NCAA’s Silver Anniversary Award. This award honors former athletes who have fashioned distinguished careers in other fields during the past quarter century.
