Educator ready to tackle session
Above: Omaha Sen. Rick Kolowski enjoys traveling. He is pictured here at Paris’ Eiffel Tower.
When Sen. Rick Kolowski and his wife Bonnie arrived in Nebraska in 1967, they had no real plans on staying.
“We thought we’d be here for a year or two,” he said. “Forty-seven years later, here we are. We just fell in love with the state and the people.”
Kolowski’s eventual journey to the Legislature began as an Eagle Scout in Oglesby, Ill. His passion for public service was sparked by great teachers and a three-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government while playing football at Lake Forest College, 30 miles north of Chicago.
So how does an Illinois native become a Nebraska state senator? Professional football, of course.
After college graduation, Kolowski was a 12th-round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs at the 1967 National Football League draft. He eventually was cut from the Chiefs and arrived in Nebraska as an offensive lineman for the Omaha Mustangs of the Continental Football League.
After his stint with the Mustangs, Kolowski decided to stay in Omaha and pursue a master’s degree in history and secondary education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He received his Ph.D. in secondary education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln eight years later.
When speaking about his 41-year career as an educator and administrator, the senator lights up.
“To help build a school from the ground up and have it acknowledged as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in its first year of eligibility,” he says wistfully, “was truly the highlight of my career.”
He has experience in nearly every aspect of education — from classroom teacher and graduate assistant to school principal and district administrator. He laughs when discussing the transition to state senator and the challenges faced by citizen-legislators.
“Being principal of a high school will prepare you for just about anything.”
An overloaded bookcase in Kolowski’s office gives subtle hints about his priorities in the Unicameral: “One House: The Unicameral’s Progressive Vision for Nebraska,” a book detailing the history of Nebraska’s unique government; and “Good Night, Moon,” his grandchildren’s favorite book.
Planning for future generations is especially important to the father of two sons — Dr. Jason Kolowski, a forensic scientist and Dr. David Kolowski, a chiropractor — and grandfather of four.
Kolowski identifies himself as a realist, but his optimism and positivity are apparent in his new role. He stresses the need to make wise decisions and listen thoughtfully to constituents.
“One of our greatest strengths in Nebraska is our common sense decision-making,” he said.
He wants to make sure defined retirement plans stay strong for people who have contributed their whole lives, manage the state’s natural resources thoughtfully and with an eye on the future, and stress student and school accountability.
“We all live for the ideals of what we’re about, tempered by the reality of the situation,” he said. “We need to make an effort to focus on the ideals.”
