He grew up on the family farm, attended St. Mary’s Catholic school and graduated from Bremond High School in 1960 at age 16. He went to Cisco Junior College earning Football All-American in 1961. He transferred to The University of North Texas, earning All-Conference honors, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1964.
Coach Widacki taught and coached at Killeen High School from 1969-1977 and moved to Ellison High School when it opened in 1978. He was Defensive Coordinator for most of his career before he retired in 2002 after 38 years in the Killeen ISD. Since retiring, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren’s activities, supporting all four local high school football programs from his perch in the press box and watching his Texas Longhorns and St Louis Cardinals on tv.
Mr. Widacki is survived by his wife of 52 years, Karon, Daughter Paige Gawryszewski and her husband Todd of Killeen and son Matt Widacki and his wife Allison of Harker Heights, four grandchildren Ryan, Rylie, Max, Lane and his brother Bernard (Sally), sister-in-laws Celestine, Gertrude, and Louise Widacki, and brother-in-law John (Sharron) Collier, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 6-8pm Friday, June 19th at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home with a Rosary at 7:30pm.
A funeral mass will be celebrated by Fr. Richard O'Rourke, M.S.C at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen, Saturday June 20th at 1:00pm in the afternoon.
