The Penn Stater Magazine

Remembering Ed Czekaj

November 18, 2009 at 10:00 am Ryan Jones Leave a comment

Ed Czekaj ’48, a Penn Stater who played on the great Nittany Lion football teams of the mid-late ’40s and directed the University’s growing athletic department through the 1970s, died Monday in State College. He was 87.

Czekaj (pronounced “Check-eye”) was an end and placekicker on Penn State’s unbeaten 1947 team (a group whose story we tell in our Nov/Dec issue); his football career was bracketed by military service in World War II and Korea. He returned to Penn State in 1953, earned a master’s degree in physical education, and served in a variety of roles in the athletic department until 1969, when he became athletic director. During 12 years in the post, he oversaw tremendous growth in women’s athletics and four expansions of Beaver Stadium.

Czekaj is survived by his wife, Virginia Gallup Czekaj ’48, children Randall ’86 and Leanne, and two grandchildren.

Ryan Jones, senior editor

Entry filed under: Penn State alumni, Penn State football. Tags: Ed Czekaj, Randall Czekaj, Virginia Gallup Czekaj.