Hall of Fame
Whoever said that running will get you nowhere fast never met Col. Everette Stoutner. He was so incredibly fast, he used his legs to see and run the globe. It is no surprise that Stoutner, as a Physical Education major, made athletics a top priority. Of course, it is easy to maintain such a priority when leading your track team to three consecutive Midwest Conference Track Championships. In a dual meet with Cornell his senior year, he won both the high and low hurdles, tied for first in the pole vault, and placed third in the broad jump in an incredible display of physical ability. He was on the Coe team that set a new record in the Iowa Open-Mile Relay at the Drake Relays. Stoutner was also very involved in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Coe and served in the armed services for the next 30 years. Four days after graduation, he was called for active duty in the European Theater during World War II. After the war, Stoutner served in Europe for a year, competing in track while stationed in France and Germany. From 1946-49 he competed in track while stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. He received a master's degree from the University of Indiana in 1952 and taught military science, served at Army Headquarters in Washington, DC, and commanded units in Hawaii, Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere. Among his many military honors are a purple heart, silver star, and numerous other medals. As he moved from Army posting to posting, Stoutner organized and coached various athletic competitions. Stoutner retired in 1972 as a colonel. Even in his civilian life, Stoutner maintains involvement in athletics. His track and Army accomplishments all relate back to his greatest asset: the ability to translate individual success into group achievement.
