Beloit College

Arriving at Beloit with impressive credentials as a Wisconsin high school basketball star and county tennis champion, “Les” Kulpic became one of the College’s most outstanding athletes.  He earned nine varsity letters – three each in basketball, tennis, and football.  On the hard-court, he was the team’s leading scorer, co-captain, and all-Midwest Conference selection; on the tennis court, he captained the squad and won the conference single’s title; on the gridiron, he was a dependable end.  Kulpic’s involvement in athletics continued beyond graduation.  He briefly coached basketball and football at St. Norbert College before entering the sporting goods business and playing as a professional with the Sheboygan Redskins of the National Basketball League.  He later assisted in coaching local football teams, officiated high school and college basketball and football games throughout the Midwest, and captured the Sheboygan County men’s tennis singles crown while also competing in doubles.  In 1943, he joined the Kohler Company as a milling machine operator; 19 years later Kulpic became the firm’s first president not bearing the family name since its founding in 1973.  He died at age 56 in 1968, when he also was serving as a Beloit Alumni Trustee.