PRINCETON, N.J. — Dick Kazmaier, the last Ivy League football player to win the Heisman Trophy, has died. He was 82.
Susan Kazmaier said Friday that her father died of natural causes Thursday at a Boston hospital. He had been living in Concord, Mass.
Kazmaier played halfback for Princeton and as a senior in 1951 won the Heisman Trophy in a landslide, receiving 506 first-place votes and 1,777 points, which was a record at the time. He also won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best player, and was The Associated Press male athlete of the year.
In his final two college seasons, the Tigers went 18-0. When he was done playing, he was Princeton's career leader in yards rushing (1,950) and ranked second in yards passing (2,404). His career completion percentage of 59.5 still ranks third at Princeton.
He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and in 2008 Princeton retired his No. 42, a jersey number also worn by Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Bradley.
"Notwithstanding all of the achievements in his athletic, business and philanthropic endeavors, Dick remained one of the most self-effacing individuals I have ever met," Princeton Athletic Director Gary Walters said in a statement. "He never sought the spotlight and always led in a thoughtful and ethical manner."
"Indeed, Dick was also the father of six daughters and he became a major force behind the scenes as he helped to implement the Title IX Legislation that was passed in 1972 in order to provide equal competitive opportunities for women in college."
Three of Kazmaier's six daughters with wife Patricia graduated from Princeton, including Patty Kazmaier, who played hockey for the Tigers and helped them to three consecutive Ivy League championships in the early 1980s.
