John Kadlec ‘Mr. Mizzou’ Dies at Age 86

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMOX) – He was known simply as “Mr. Mizzou.”

John Kadlec, the St. Louis native who went from a University of Missouri offensive guard in 1947 to the color commentator on the Tigers Radio network for 16 years, died at the age of 86 this morning in Columbia.

Kadlec was recruited by legendary Mizzou head coach Don Faurot.

He was an all-conference lineman during his time at Mizzou, and he went on to serve as an assistant football coach under Faurot, as well as Frank Broyles, Dan Devine and Al Onofrio.

The voice of the Tigers, KMOX’s Mike Kelly, says Kadlec had an infectious passion for the university and its football team.

“The program meant so much to him. The university meant so much to him,” Kelly says. “It was his program – it was his university.”

Kadlec touched thousands in his 50-plus years of devotion to Mizzou.

“He was a guy that always greeted you with a smile. He was a guy that always had something to make you laugh,” Kelly says. “Each and every Saturday, over the course of the time that we spent together, he taught me something different.”

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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