James Cozad

1927 - 2015

James W. Cozad, 88, of Lost Tree Village (North Palm Beach, Florida) and Glen view, Illinois, died on March 17 , 2015, at Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida. Jim was born on February 10, 1927 in Huntington, Indiana, the only child of Emmett and Helen (Motz) Cozad. A 1945 graduate of Huntington Township High School where he excelled at basketball and football, Jim enlisted in the US Navy and was deployed to the Pacific in World War II. Jim drove LCVPs (Higgins boats) during amphibious landings in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. He was awarded the Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, Jim enrolled at Indiana University where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity, graduating in 1950 with a B.S. in Accounting. After graduation, Jim joined the Detroit office of Peat Marwick Mitchell & Company, becoming a senior accountant. He moved to the vice presidency of Hygrade Food Products Corporation, also in Detroit, and then served as Treasurer of Philip Morris Inc. in New York City. In 1969, Jim joined Standard Oil Company of Indiana (later renamed Amoco Corporation) in Chicago as Financial Vice President. He became a Vice President in 1971, a director in 1976, Executive Vice President in 1978 and Vice Chairman in 1983. In 1989, Jim was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Whitman Corporation, where he served until his retirement in 1992. According to the Chicago Tribune (May 4, 1992), "Some thought Cozad would be only a caretaker at Whitman when, in January 1990, he left Amoco Corp., where he was vice chairman. At Amoco he was credited with masterminding the $4.2 billion acquisition of Dome Petroleum Ltd. in 1988. But like the 'caretaker pope,' Pope John XXIII, who radically reformed the Catholic Church in the 1960s, Cozad made some fundamental changes at Whitman during his brief tour and, in the process, turned the company around for the better." Jim was known as a consensus builder throughout his distinguished career, and according to the Tribune, "the veteran business executive and Indiana native spent the better part [of his career] building cohesive management teams capable of putting business proposals into perspective and developing strategic plans for carrying them out." As Jim himself noted, "For one individual to think he has the answers to everything is not very sm art." Jim was asked by Mayor Richard M. Daley to head up his casino commission in 1992 but had to resign when he learned his company held a property interest that might be considered a conflict. According to the Tribune, "Daley understood Cozad's position and accepted his resignation, with regret. But the biggest losers may be the citizens of Chicago. Though low in name recognition, Cozad has been one of the city's more effective business leaders and his presence is apt to be missed." Jim served on numerous corporate boards, including those of Amoco Corp.; Beatrice Foods Co.; Continental Bank; Eli Lilly & Co.; GATX Corp.; Inland Steel Industries; Northern Trust Company; Sears, Roebuck & Co.; US Gypsum Corp.; and Whitman Corp. Deeply involved in the Chicago community, Jim, along with his wife and college sweetheart, Jinny, gave significant time and energy to many philanthropic boards and community groups. Jim served as President of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and received the Carol Fox Award in 2005. He and his wife also endowed the Virginia and James Cozad Chair of Hematology/Oncology at the Kellogg Cancer Care Center at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in 2006. Jim served as a director of the Chicago Medical School, and he was a trustee of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Museum of Science & Industry and the Chicago Zoological Society. As a loyal and proud Indiana University alumnus, Jim was a charter member of the Dean's Council and also served on the IU Foundation Board. He was the recipient of the Kelley School of Business' Academy of Alumni Fellowship in 1970, an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 1982, and the Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1992. In 1998, Jim and Jinny endowed the James and Virginia Cozad Chair of Finance at the Kelley School. Jim was a member of Everglades Club, Glen View Club, Lost Tree Club, Shore Acres, The Chicago Club and Old Elm Club . He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Virginia (Jinny) Alley Cozad and five children, Mike (Sandy) Cozad of Manchester, Missouri; Catherine (Rodney Wade) Cozad of Stilwell, Kansas; Scott (Maryellen) Cozad of Glenview, Illinois; Jeff (Janie) Cozad of Hillsborough, California; and Amy (Steve) Challgren of Independence, Minnesota; 10 grandchildren and three great---grandchildren. Despite climbing to the pinnacle of the business world and experiencing great success, Jim was a humble and modest man who was proud of his Indiana roots. He loved all competitive sports, especially Hoosier basketball and the 1976, 1981 and 1987 NCAA championship teams. He and Jinny traveled extensively during his career with Amoco, and his other hobbies included hunting, fishing and golf . He was a proud grandfather who loved attending his grandchildren 's many sporting events and theatre endeavors, and he mentored numerous young people who have gone on to successful business careers. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim Cozad's memory may be sent to Lyric Opera of Chicago (please contact Mary Selander, Director of Development, at (312) 827-¿-5675 for details). A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 12 at 2:00 pm at Kenilworth Union Church, 211 Kenilworth Avenue, Kenilworth, IL with a reception immediately following at Glen View Club, 100 Golf Road, Golf, IL.