GRANITE CITY HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1966

John W. Kozyak graduated from Granite City High School in 1966. He is the eldest son of William and Marilynn Kozyak, who both also graduated from Granite City High School and owned Kozyak’s Market for many years.

John attended both Marshall and Niedringhaus Elementary Schools and Coolidge Junior High School. He wrestled and ran cross-country for the Warriors. He was active in scouting and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

John graduated from the University of Illinois in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and worked for a time at Kozyak’s Market before enrolling at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. While in law school, John served as Editor of the Law Quarterly. He also worked for Trans World Airlines, which enabled him to travel extensively.

In 1977, John moved to Miami for a summer legal job and has lived there ever since. John is married to a lawyer, Barbara Silverman; and they have two sons, Benjamin and Jeremy.

John started his legal career as a commercial litigator in 1975 and began specializing in corporate bankruptcy matters in 1979. He is one of only two individuals in the country who is both a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and American College of Trial Attorneys. He has represented debtors, creditors, equity holders, and committees in many of the largest bankruptcy cases filed in Florida and elsewhere.

John has been recognized as a top bankruptcy lawyer in every edition of Best Lawyers in America since 1982 and, more recently, as a “Bet-the-Company” litigator. He has been identified as one of the top eight top bankruptcy lawyers in Florida by Chambers (USA). He has also lectured on bankruptcy issues across the nation and published a number of articles. John was a founding partner of the Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A., which was formed in 1982 and the law firm now has twenty lawyers.

John is especially proud of his recognition as a tireless advocate for diversity in the practice of law and commitment to providing pro-bono services.

In 2004, his law firm received the Supreme Court Chief Justice's Law Firm Commendation in recognition of its commitment to providing free legal services to those who cannot afford legal fees. In 2006, Mr. Kozyak received both the Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award and the Florida Bar’s highest award for Humanitarianism, The G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Award. In 2006, John also received the Miami Coalition of Christian & Jews Community Service Award for Community Service. The American Bar Association’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity honored John in 2008 with its highest “Spirit of Excellence” Award. Chief Judge for United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the Honorable Frederico Moreno, introduced John at a banquet by stating “No one has done more to promote diversity in our community.”

Mr. Kozyak has passionately promoted diversity and inclusion in the community, with particular emphasis on mentoring programs for black law school students throughout Florida and in St. Louis. John and his wife have regularly co-sponsored receptions and a picnic for minority students and their mentors. His annual Minority Mentoring Picnic, now attracts more than 2,500 judges, lawyers, faculty, minority law students and guests. The minority mentoring programs at the University of Miami and St. Thomas School of Law are now named after John. During the past ten years, John has personally matched more than 900 black students throughout Florida with judges and lawyers, who serve as mentors. John has been described by one of his mentees as “someone who opens doors, kicks down doors, and is always looking for ways to give back.”