Francis Ruzicka was president of Parsons School of Art and Design in New York and a dean at Ohio State University before succeeding Lamar Dodd as chairman of the University of Georgia art department in 1976.
"He was known to be a brilliant drawing teacher and master administrator who led the program at UGA with great passion," said Carmon Colangelo, director of UGA's school of art. Mr. Ruzicka, a sought-after juror for exhibitions, returned to full-time teaching in 1989 and retired in 1993. He died in April 2003.