Fonds 0192 - Frank Kozar fonds

Frank Kozar was born August 30, 1929, in Kavanaugh, Alberta to immigrant parents Franz and Anna Kozar. He was raised on a farm in the Sunnybrook district with his two younger sisters, Annie and Martha. Frank received his elementary education at Sunnybrook School. He started Grade 1 in 1936 at the height of the Depression, and had to learn English that first year. After a difficult beginning, he was inspired by a junior high teacher, Mr. Smith, to take up the profession of teaching. He started his career in 1948 as a Supervisor of correspondence lessons at Capbillion School, working on his own correspondence at night. At the same time he served as secretary for the Sunnybrook Local of the United Farmers of Alberta, which gave him the opportunity to attend the Department of Agriculture's Farm Young People's week at the University of Alberta. Here his intentions to study botany in university were shaped. As he could not afford the expense of a University Education, Frank completed his degrees through summer sessions, all the while teaching in the Strawberry School Division south-west of Edmonton. His first degree was a Bachelor of Education in 1956 and his final a Ph. D. in Cygenetics in 1969. After the completion of his Ph.D., Dr. Kozar moved to the Peace Country as Chairman of Liberal Studies at Grande Prairie Regional College. He went on from there to Grant MacEwan College and the University of Alberta as well as consulting for the Alberta Department of Education and being sessional instructor for King's College. Frank married Dolores in 1958 and they had two children, Arlene and Roy. His consuming interests outside of family and career were working with Royal Canadian Army Cadets and photography. Frank passed away February 19, 2005 in Edmonton, aged 75.