Mr. Kowalski is Meryl Lee's dad and the lead architect at Kowalski and Associates, the rival firm to Hoodhood and Associates. He seems to be a sad and insecure man and even copies Holling's dad's plan for the junior high school remodeling project. However, he does so because landing that job would mean being able to support his family and remain in town. Though Mr. Kowalski does pull his proposal out of the running, Mrs. Baker later helps land Mr. Kowalski a lucrative three-year contract to remodel the Yankee Stadium. This puts Mr. Kowalski in the running for Chamber of Commerce Businessman of 1968, much to Holling's dad's chagrin.