Cornell University Athletics

An excellent running back from both the single wing and T-formations, he won letters in football in 1942, 1946 and 1947, serving as captain of the 1947 team. Kretz was named to the United Press All-Eastern team and received Associated Press All-America honorable mention in 1942. He also received Newspaper Enterprise Association All-America honorable mention in 1946, in addition to earning AP All-East honorable mention. He led the 1946 team in rushing with 594 yards on 88 carries and a school-best net rushing average per carry of 6.8. He signed a contract to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-American Football Conference. A native of Amityville, N.Y., he was a teacher, football coach and later an executive assistant principal at Lancaster High School. He died in 1983 in Amityville.