Dick Kazmaier

Richard William Kazmaier Jr. (November 23, 1930 – August 1, 2013) was an American businessman and naval lieutenant. He played college football as a halfback for the Princeton Tigers from 1949 through 1951 and was the winner of the 1951 Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the AP Male Athlete of the Year.

Early life, family and education Kazmaier was born November 23, 1930, in Maumee, Ohio, At Maumee High School, he played football (four years), basketball (four years), track and field (four years), baseball (four years) and golf (one year), earning a letter each year in each sport. He graduated high school in 1948. He was recruited by 23 colleges, most offering full scholarships.

Kazmaier graduated with a degree in psychology The Chicago Bears selected him in the 1952 NFL draft, but he declined to play professional football, instead going to Harvard Business School. He was the last Heisman Trophy winner to play for an Ivy League institution.

Career After his discharge from the navy, he worked in sports marketing and consulting, then founded Kazmaier Associates, an investment firm in Concord, Massachusetts.

Kazmaier served as a director of the American Red Cross, director of the Ladies Professional Golfers Association, trustee of Princeton University, director of the Knight Foundation on Intercollegiate Athletics, chairman of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and president of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.

Honors and awards In addition to his Heisman, the NCAA gave him its Silver Anniversary Award. He also received the National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award.

In 2007, during a Maumee football game against Perrysburg, Kazmaier was honored by having his jersey number (#42) retired. Princeton retired his #42 for all sports in October 2008. He donated his Heisman Trophy to Maumee High School, where it is displayed inside a glass case in the main hallway. The stadium at Maumee High School is named in his honor.

Personal Kazmaier and his wife Patricia were married for 60 years.

Kazmaier died on August 1, 2013, in Boston from heart and lung disease at the age of 82.