Pete Kulynych
Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Ian Curcio
From his start as a bookkeeper for a little hardware store in North Wilkesboro to a career as one of Lowe’s top executives‚ Petro “Pete” Kulynych has worked hard to make a difference along the way. Now that he’s retired‚ that hasn’t changed.
The son of Ukrainian immigrants‚ Kulynych used his GI benefits to attend accounting school‚ then went to work for North Wilkesboro Hardware‚ owned by two gentlemen named Lowe and Buchanan. From there he became the first employee in what grew to be Lowe’s Companies‚ Inc.‚ where he stayed until his retirement.
Kulynych has created two foundations and has paid for the education of six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. And he hasn’t just looked after his own kids; he’s made life better for the generations to come throughout Wilkes County‚ endowing projects such as a teen center‚ theater‚ soccer field and skate park.
Another example of his philanthropy is the Kulynych Family Life Center‚ a part of the Rainbow Center for Children. His late wife‚ Roena‚ was a board member of the center‚ and when she passed away he says he wanted to do something that would both honor her and help the town.
“They take care of children‚ and she cared about the organization‚ so I wanted to build that building for them‚” he says.
Anyone who knows Kulynych and his work ethic can be certain that the center won’t be his last mark on the community‚ either.
“I’m almost 86‚ and I can’t get off the wagon‚” he says. “I have an office full of papers and I stay busy all the time. My health is good‚ and the mailbox stays full‚ so even though I’m beginning to downgrade some‚ pare down a little‚ I have a lot going on.
But when you’re 85‚ you start making plans. I’ve made arrangements for these foundations that my daughters are going to run‚ so they’ll go on.”
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