Born: Nov. 10, 1905 in South Amherst, Ohio

Died: Feb. 23, 1986 in Bradenton, Florida

Family: Wife – Mary (died, 1999). Children: Arthur Jr.; Robert. Six grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren

Coaching highlights

  • Amherst Steele (1946-50)
    • 1950: 3rd place Southwestern Conference, 7th Baldwin-Wallace Class B Sectional
    • 1949: 3rd SWC, 3rd Baldwin-Wallace Class B Sectional, 3rd Class B state meet
    • 1948: 5th SWC, 3rd Baldwin-Wallace Class B Sectional
    • 1946: 2nd Northern Ohio League, 1st Clearview Class B Sectional

During Engle’s tenure, the Comets had eight All-Ohio performances. Jerry Prittie accounted or contributed for half those all-state awards. Prittie was a state champ in 1949 winning discus. Prittie also contributed with a second in shot put in 1949 and a third in shot in 1948. He also teamed with Lyle Auble, Don Jenkins and Bob Meesig for a fifth in the mile relay at the 1947 state meet. Willfred Frederick was second at state in the mile (1950) and third for the same event in 1949. Robert Schroeder finished fifth in high jump at the 1946 state classic.

Athletic highlights

Oberlin High School (1920-24)

1924: Engle captured the Class A (now Division I) state championship for the 220-yard dash with a time of 23.0 to become Oberlin High’s first-ever state track champion. He won the state title by defeating Dayton Stivers’ Jones, the second place finisher. Engle was also fourth in the 100-yard dash.

1924: Engle was an underdog for the 220-yard Class A state title. Engle was defeated by East Cleveland Shaw’s Howie Kriss in the 220-yard final at the Lakewood Class A Regional (then known as sectionals). Kriss was clocked at 23 4/5 seconds with Engle a very close second. Engle also advanced to state in the 100 with a third place finish.

Oberlin College (1925-26)

1926: Engle had quite a day on May 1, 1926 versus Reserve University. He set the school record for the 220-yard dash with a time of 21.2, breaking the 1893 record of 21.6 set by Ernest Boothman. Earlier in the same meet he tied the school record for the 100-yard dash as he became the seventh Oberlin College track athlete up to clocked 10 flat.

Iowa State College (1928-29)

1929: Was a member of the winning distance medley relay at the Texas Relays in a time of 10:39. The medley was a combination of 440, 880, 1320 and one mile. Engle is believed to ran the 440 leg. 

1928: Finished fourth in the 220-yard dash and fifth in the 100-yard dash at the National Collegiate meet at Soldier’s Field in Chicago.

1928: Engle won both the 100- and 220-yard dashes in the Iowa State-Missouri dual meet to help Iowa State to its first-ever win over Missouri by the score of 69-61.

Professional background

1961-67: Principal of Amherst Central Junior High

1951-61: Executive head of Elyria Township Schools and was former principal of Maplewood School. He was instrumental in helping to arrange the consolidation of the township schools with the Elyria City School District.

1950-51: Superintendent and teacher for Belden High School

1935-50: Head of science department, coach for Amherst Steele High School

1931-35: Teacher for Birmingham High School

Other memberships and organizations

Engle was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, and the National Society for Education.
He also held memberships in the Lorain County and State of Ohio Mental Health boards, Lorain County Guidance Center, the Lorain County Tuberculosis and Health Association, the Lorain County Crippled Children and Adults Association and the Sandstone Camera Club.
Engle was a former delegate to the North Eastern Ohio Teachers Association and a member of the National Elementary Principals’ Association and president of the Lorain County Education Association.

A mental health activist, authored numerous articles about mental health in schools, topics in math and science plus was very active in a local photography club

Education

1924: Oberlin High School

1924-26: Oberlin College

1931: Iowa State College, bachelor’s degree

Baldwin-Wallace College and Ohio State University, post undergraduate

Kent State University, masters degree