Ed Kulakowski appropriately became the 50th member of the Austin Peay Hall of Fame. Kulakowski has served Austin Peay both on and off the field – as a football player, a track performer, a coach, a trainer and even a fund raiser. Kulakowski was a standout APSU offensive-defensive lineman form 1951-53, in an iron man era when players played both ways. He was named to both The Nashville Tennessean’s All-Area and The Nashville Banner’s All Mid-State teams for three seasons. He also was selected All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference. Kulakowski earned the nickname “Killer” because of his aggressiveness. He consistently recorded more than 100 tackles in each of his Governor seasons and became a special teams specialist, blocking seven kicks during one season – an unofficial APSU record. He also participated in track for three seasons, setting the school shot put record in 1953. He threw the javelin and ran distances as well. Additionally, he participated in boxing, an unofficial APSU sport. Kulakowski, a native of Edwardsville, PA was a standout four-sport athlete in high school. He originally played at Virginia Tech but after one year returned home to work in the coal mines. He came to APSU in 1951 and the 6-2, 215-pound lineman proceeded to play every minute of each game during the next three seasons, culminating in his outstanding 1953 season. He also earned honorable mention All-America that year. A member of the Dean’s list in 1953, Kulakowski received his bachelor’s degree in English in 1955. While pursuing his graduate degree, Kulakowski served as APSU’s freshman football coach and trainer in 1955-56.
After leaving Austin Peay, he proceeded to work 34 years as a South Central Bell engineer, the final seven as state manager in Louisiana. He and his high school sweetheart, Shirley, are the parents of eight children, Shirley, John, Eddie, Patty, Chris, Mary, Janice and Michelle, and 13 grandchildren. John earned All-American honors at Northwestern Louisiana. Kulakowski was diagnosed with cancer –multiple myeloma – in 1987 and spent an entire year in the hospital fighting the disease. In August of 1988, he was told by doctors that he had one year to live. Inexplicably, however, his condition began to improve and so did his burning desire to return to his alma mater. In August 1991, Kulakowski returned to APSU as a volunteer assistant to “repay the school he loves.” He became popular with the coaches and players alike, who appreciated his dedication, positive attitude and heart. Last fall, Kulakowski also helped spearhead the Dave Aaron Endowment Fund for his beloved late former football coach. This summer Kulakowski underwent a bone marrow transplant but miraculously returned to Austin Peay in mid-September to again aid with the Governors football program.
