Michael Andrew Kukral
Encyclopedia
Michael Andrew Kukral is the author of one of the few published books detailing the experience of an American student during the 1989 Velvet Revolution
in what was then communist Czechoslovakia. From 1988 to 1991, Kukral was a doctoral student in geography at the University of Kentucky
and among the first small group of Fulbright Scholars in Prague
.
to Clarence and Ada (Nemer) Kukral, he first graduated from Ohio University
with degrees in Geography, Environmental Science, and Political Science. He attended Revere High School in the same class as Jeffrey Dahmer
.
He later appeared as an extra in the Holiday Classic "A Christmas Story", appearing in the crowd outside when the main character's father receives the "leg lamp".
in Terre Haute, Indiana
, where he is also faculty advisor to his fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha
.
In addition to publications on Czech topics, Mike Kukral is a noted authority on the player piano
, especially regarding the Welte-Mignon
reproducing piano, and is editor and publisher of the Bulletin of the Automatic Musical Instruments Collectors Association (AMICA).
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
in what was then communist Czechoslovakia. From 1988 to 1991, Kukral was a doctoral student in geography at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
and among the first small group of Fulbright Scholars in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
Early life and education
Born in the rural town of Richfield, OhioRichfield, Ohio
Richfield is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,286 at the 2000 census. The village and the adjacent Richfield Township are approximately equidistant between the downtown areas of Akron and Cleveland...
to Clarence and Ada (Nemer) Kukral, he first graduated from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
with degrees in Geography, Environmental Science, and Political Science. He attended Revere High School in the same class as Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
.
He later appeared as an extra in the Holiday Classic "A Christmas Story", appearing in the crowd outside when the main character's father receives the "leg lamp".
Career
Kukral is also the author of several best selling study guides for college students of geography as well as articles on Czechs in America. Since 1999 Professor Kukral has been on the faculty at Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology , formerly Rose Polytechnic Institute, is a small private college specializing in teaching engineering, mathematics, and science. RHIT is highly regarded for its undergraduate engineering program, which US News and World Reports ranked in 2011 as No...
in Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, where he is also faculty advisor to his fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
.
In addition to publications on Czech topics, Mike Kukral is a noted authority on the player piano
Player piano
A player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via pre-programmed music perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home in...
, especially regarding the Welte-Mignon
Welte-Mignon
M. Welte & Sons, Freiburg and New York was a manufacturer of orchestrions, organs and reproducing pianos, established in Vöhrenbach by Michael Welte in 1832.-Overview:...
reproducing piano, and is editor and publisher of the Bulletin of the Automatic Musical Instruments Collectors Association (AMICA).
Published works
- Kukral, M.A. 1997. Prague 1989: Theater of Revolution. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-88033-369-3.
- Kukral, M.A. 2003. Study Guide for the Human Mosaic. New York & Boston: Freeman.
- Kukral, M.A. (ed.) 2003-08. Bulletin of the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association, all issues. San Francisco: AMICA Publications.
- Kukral, M.A. 2005. "Czech Settlements in 19th Century Cleveland, Ohio," East European Quarterly.
External links
- http://www.rose-hulman.edu
- http://www.derfcity.com
- http://www.amica.org