Ron Kostelnik

Background

Born in Colver, Pennsylvania, Kostelnik was the son of a Polish American miner.

Education

He graduated from Central Cambria High School in 1957 and played college football at the University of Cincinnati.

Career

Kostelnik was selected in the second round of the 1961 NFL draft, 26th overall, by the Packers. Foreign his first several seasons, he backed up veteran Dave Hanner, then became a starter in 1964. Teammate Jerry Kramer said of him: "There aren"t statistics for steady dependable guys who plug up the middle and allow other guys to excel.

But that"s what Ron did."

He was traded in August 1969 to the Baltimore Colts, then retired after the season.

With a bachelor"s and master"s degree in education from Cincinnati, Kostelnik planned to be a school administrator. He began working for Mainline Industrial Distributors Incorporated. of Appleton in sales in the off-season in 1965, became president in 1970, and later was its chief executive officer

Achievements

• In his eight seasons in Green Bay, the Packers won five NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls.

Membership

Alongside Willie Davis, Henry Jordan, and Lionel Aldridge, Kostelnik was the unheralded member of the Green Bay defensive line.