Ed Stuffle stands with his 1939 Ford Coupe.
As if a 1939 Ford Coupe wasn't enough, Stuffle later purchased a 1928 Ford Model A closed cab pickup truck.
From the time the doors opened at North Montgomery in the fall of 1971 until May of 2013, Ed Stuffle spent each day preparing for classes and practices, before teaching drafting classes and coaching cross country and track and field.
Choosing to retire in 2013 from teaching industrial arts and a 40+ year career as a coach for the Chargers, retirement took a bit of getting used to, but Stuffle quickly found things to do.
During the summer of ‘13, Stuffle’s younger brother contracted cancer, and he decided to chase a hobby he had always been interested in, but never had time to pursue.
Old cars.
“Old cars I’ve had an interest in for a long time,” he said. “When I was a little guy, my Dad would take us to a dirt track with jalopy car races and I really fell in love with those big fender cars. So when I saw the sun setting on the coaching and teaching career then I begin to think about it.”
Stuffle didn’t respond to the sparked interest until his brother, who had recently built a 1932 Ford, was diagnosed with cancer.
“When he built that car and started touring was the summer I retired and I was touring with him just to spend that much more time with him,” Stuffle said.
After visiting a Frog Follies Car Show in Evansville, Stuffle told his brother that he would start looking for a Willy’s.
“And he said I can’t afford a Willy’s,” he said jokingly.
So Stuffle settled on the idea of a ‘39 Ford Coupe, but again his brother had doubts as he knew they would struggle finding one.
“So we went to the Frog Follies down in Evansville and there was a ‘39 sitting on the lot with a for sale sign on it and we just started talking and that’s just how it ended up,” Stuffle said.
Stuffle purchased the car in 2013, and says it was restored in 2000 by the previous owner.
Pretty much having the ability to take it anywhere, Stuffle regularly takes it to car shows, and soon after he brought the car home he found out it might not have been the first time the car had made a trip to Montgomery County.
“When I brought the car up here and I had only been to a couple of shows I met a guy that thought the car came from Wingate,” he said.
He hasn’t been able to confirm that the car was once owned by a resident from Wingate, but says he has a lead on it.
Stuffle’s interest in cars has led to his daily driver now being parked permanently in the driveway. In 2014 he purchased a 1928 Ford Model A closed cab pickup truck.
In February, Stuffle was inducted into the Indiana Track and Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame for his accolades as both a longtime coach and official. Stuffle now serves on the board of directors for the hall of fame, and is still active as an official both in cross country and track and field.
“I still wanted to be around those athletes,” he said following retirement. “I had been officiating since 1976.”
Stuffle has officiated at every level, including the Olympic Trials on three occasions.
As his retirement continues, Stuffle plans to continue to stay active. Spending his days drafting and working on his cars, and his evenings and weekends track-side with some of the best track and field athletes as an official.
“I want to continue to stay active,” he said. “In 2004 I was the head starter for the Division I NCAA cross country championship meet, and I received word that they’re going to put me back on the gun this fall.”
