Honorees

On Behalf of the American Cancer Society and all of those who have been touched by cancer, we are honored to celebrate the memory of Vince Koza. Vince was born on May 29, 1958 in Oak Park, Illinois to the late Eugene and Marlene (Gales) Koza. He grew up in Streetsboro, Ohio. The only son and oldest sibling to 3 younger sisters, Vince loved sports, and became a loyal and devoted fan of the Cleveland Browns, Indians, and Cavaliers. He graduated from Ohio University in 1980, majoring in broadcast journalism.

Vince moved to Lima, Ohio in 1980 to begin working at WLIO-TV. He became the sports anchor and director, working at TV-35 for 27 1/2 years. In 2007 Vince was honored with a selection to the Associated Press Hall of Fame - one of his many accolades, honors, and awards.

In Lima, Vince met his beloved wife, Holly Carol Geaman. They married on October 14, 1989 and were blessed in February 1993 with twin daughters, Sarah and Brittany. In the 1990s, "The Koz" began hosting his Saturday morning "Sportstalk with Koza" radio show, which had its home at various radio stations throughout the years. In July 2008, he left television and began working full-time at 93.1, The Fan, where he became the sports marketing director, high school football and basketball play-by-play announcer, and continued hosting the popular "Sportstalk with Koza." He also, for a number of years, wrote a weekly column for The Lima News.

Vince was as devoted to the Lima community as he was to his family. The American Cancer Society, Equestrian Therapy, Easter Seals, and Ohio High School Athletic Association were among the many organizations he passionately supported. For 40 years, "The Koz" tirelessly volunteered to emcee countless raffles, fundraisers, and other charitable events. We are honored to have Vince’s friends and family to help us celebrate the life of Vince Koza here at the American Cancer Society Golf Tournament of Allen County. Thank you for all your love and support.