A legacy of hope, helping others, positive attitude and inspiration. Those are the words that Thomas “Tek” Alan Kleban’s former Penn State track and field teammates and coaches used when asked about his legacy.
Kleban’s story and legacy are those of unwavering passion, commitment and impact, and now his legacy will live on to impact fellow Penn Staters with the establishment and endowment of the Thomas “Tek” Alan Kleban Excellence Fund Track & Field Scholarship.
A True Friendship
Greg Large ’90 was an accomplished high school track athlete set to continue his athletic and academic career at Army. Following the passing of his father in May of 1985, Large’s life, and plans, changed. He ended up at Penn State as a 110m and 400m hurdles athlete on the track & field team.
“Penn State rescued my college career and gave me an opportunity,” explained Large. “When I first arrived, I showed up every day, but mentally I wasn’t there. It was the great support system, including Tek, that helped me get through the tough time that followed the passing of my father.”
Large, Tek, and their teammates always had each other’s backs. Practices, road trips, grueling meet days, and everything in between bonded them in ways that only teammates could understand.
“We were a group of guys who competed at a very high level, we rooted for each other, we competed against each other, and pushed each other at practice – through that we had a lot of success,” said Bob Gifford ’89, a four-year letterman and teammate of Tek and Large. “You don't go through that process unless you have each other's backs. You support each other and you grind it out, you work really hard, and Tek was one of those guys that pushed his teammates at every level.”
The bond was unbreakable, both before and after the tragic accident that would alter Tek’s life forever. It was the summer of 1989 when Tek and several teammates were gathered for the Fourth of July at a teammate’s house. A severe spinal cord injury suffered from a swimming accident at that gathering would leave Tek paralyzed from the chest down.
Both the immediate aftermath and the year that followed the accident was a test of strength for all involved, and a true demonstration of a community and a team coming together.
Large was set to move on from Penn State prior to the accident, but instead chose to return for another season with an additional purpose: to help Tek, a State College native, and the Kleban family in any way he could throughout the year. He was given his scholarship back by head coach Harry Groves for the season and nominated by his teammates as a team captain.
“We were all coping and trying to support each other, but most importantly, Tek, in every way that we could that year after the accident,” said Large. “The camaraderie, the community of the team, and just seeing how everybody stepped up in their own way to support Tek and the Kleban family was something that I know I’ll be forever grateful for – for having had the privilege to be part of it, but most importantly to see the humanity and the kindness of the Penn State community, State College community, alumni and all who stepped up in support.”
Greg Large and Tek Kleban compete in hurdlesA Life and Legacy of Impact and Inspiration
A common sentiment shared by those who knew and loved Tek was that the accident, and his new reality of being a quadriplegic, didn’t change who Tek was at his core.
“Tek downplayed it very much,” said Bill Whitaker, former assistant coach. “When people went to help him, he would let them know that ‘hey, I'm doing this. I can get along. I can do things on my own, and don't worry about me. How can I help you?’. That attitude was just mind blowing.”
“No matter how much he went through and how much he had to fight, he had a smile on his face,” said Gifford. “If you saw that, you couldn’t help but feel good about life.”
Tek would go on to spend many years coaching track & field at State College Area High School in addition to a successful career as a senior research analyst with Vantage Investment Advisors. A beloved member of the State College and Penn State communities, he helped coach the 2016 State High team to a 2016 state championship and was a mainstay around Happy Valley. He passed away in March 2024 at the age of 56.
“He gave so much inspiration to so many people – the young athletes that he coached, the athletes that he competed with, the people who met him,” said Eric Steenstra ’89, teammate and lifelong friend of Tek. “Everyone was completely changed for life by the inspiration that he gives off. Every time I went down to see him or talked on the phone with him I’d ask ‘How are you doing?’, and he’d say ‘Fantastic. Couldn't be better’. Every time. That's amazing when we're talking about a guy who is a quadriplegic. He was just always positive, always optimistic. And he had the biggest smile that you could ever imagine that would just make anybody's day.”
The Legacy Lives On
Tek’s attitude, life and inspiration affected so many in so many positive ways. Now, thanks to Large’s overwhelming sense of pride in and commitment to Penn State, it will live on in the form of the Thomas “Tek” Alan Kleban Track & Field Scholarship in support of the track & field walk-on student-athletes at Penn State.
“It’s important that his memory never gets lost in a large program at a large university. There are championships, there are all these other things that get celebrated, but sometimes it’s important to celebrate those who have the greatest impact on a team, on an organization, on the University, on the community. Tek’s legacy is something that I think is important to last for generations to come. And I can think of no greater way to recognize that than knowing there will be scholarships that are supported in the Penn State track and field program in his name and honor.”
Greg Large '90Greg Large & Tek Kleban at a Penn State football gameHow You Can Make A Difference
Tek Kleban is a wonderful example of Penn State’s “why”. Penn State student-athletes are prepared for a lifetime of impact, given the opportunity to pursue a world-class education and given the chance to compete against the best and brightest athletes in the world. Penn State creates a truly unique experience that builds an unparalleled foundation for everything that follows in student-athlete’s lives.
Penn State relies on a mix of philanthropic support and general program revenues to fund its 31 sport NCAA Division I Intercollegiate Athletics programs. Consider supporting the Penn State Track & Field Excellence Fund to help empower the program with the resources needed to address its most immediate needs.