Ex-Florida center, athletic director Carr passes away at 78

GAINESVILLE, Fla.– Previous Florida athletic director Costs Carr, an All-America center and group captain for the Gators in 1966, passed away Saturday night. He was 78.

The university verified Carr’s death Sunday.Carr was the school’s AD for 7 years(1979-1986 ). He left voluntarily and served as the executive director of a youth advocacy group and as vice president at Raycom Sports before going back to college sports as Houston’s advertisement in 1993. Carr was born in Gainesville and spent time in Vero Beach and Pensacola before returning to his home town for college. He was a three-year starter for the Gators and was Steve Spurrier’s roomie as a senior.”I was lucky to see him just a couple of weeks ago, and he was battling some

health concerns,”Spurrier said in a declaration.”His teammates called him’Willie C,’ and he liked the school and everyone around him. We liked him back and all people have a lot of terrific memories of Costs. “Carr was a fourth-round draft choice (106th general)by the New Orleans Saints

in 1967. He left the Saints later that year to satisfy his military service obligation. He invested 2 years in the Army and served in the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea. He went back to the Saints after serving and was cut following the preseason.Carr moved back to Florida in 1970 to function as a graduate assistant for the football team while earning a master’s degree in education. In 1974, he ended up being an assistant to Florida AD Ray Graves. When Graves retired in 1979, Carr was promoted and became the youngest advertisement in Department I at the time.He’s credited with assisting lead Florida’s athletic department out of financial obligation and leading the building of the school’s basketball facility along with a growth of the football arena.”Bill’s fingerprints are all over the foundation of this program,”previous Florida advertisement Jeremy Foley said.

“I had a front-row seat to witness his impact and vision throughout his time as athletic director, specifically in the location of centers. “He was among my first mentors and had a big influence on my career. “Carr likewise was in charge when the NCAA handed the Gators a three-year probation in 1984. Carr was slammed for not doing enough

to stop the excesses of football coach Charley Pell, who resigned in the wake of the NCAA investigation.