Stuckey honored by Indiana University

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

By CAREY FOX

Times Sports Editor

The Stuckey Family name has long been associated with Brazil and Northview athletics as well as Indiana University.

Last weekend, Larry Stuckey was honored as a 50-year letterman during halftime of the Illinois football game on Oct. 17 at Indiana University. He participated in the festivities that included a homecoming parade and a reception/dinner during the weekend.

Letter winners, who received their first "I" during the 1959-60 school year were recognized.

While Stuckey knew about the upcoming honor, he still enjoyed catching up with some fellow alumni from IU.

"I think the younger you are, the more excited you get about these kinds of things. When your 70 years old, you've seen a few," Stuckey quipped.

Stuckey also went on to mention that having his family along with him was an enjoyable and that one of the highlights was getting to see David Martin, a fellow honoree and IU football letterman, who he was a childhood friend of his whom he knew throughout his college years as well.

Members of the family show a framed photo that features each member of the family with the teams that they managed while at Indiana University. Jon Stuckey, Jennifer (Stuckey) Bycroft, Larry Stuckey and Jeff Stuckey.
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Stuckey was a teacher and coach at Northview High School before retiring in 2002. He coached from 1969 to 2002 in boys and girls' track and field, wrestling and was an assistant football coach as well during his decorated tenure. In track and field, he coached Carri Long, a 1995 Northview graduate who was a two-time state champion in the high jump and went on to win a Big Ten title at Purdue and went on to compete for the U.S. National Team in China.

As a wrestling coach, he won several conference and sectional titles, including a WIC title in Northview High School's first year of existence.

When reflecting on his year's of coaching, Stuckey felt that "seeing kids reach their potential," was the best part of his career on the sidelines.

During his own prep career, Stuckey graduated from Bloomington High School where he competed in wrestling, track and cross country. He then continued his competitive career at Indiana University where he ran cross country during the 1959-61 seasons and also earned a letter in track during the 1962 season.

Stuckey received his Bachelor and Master's Degree from the school.

"Cross country was a great experience every year, because it was great to travel to all different Big Ten schools and see the great fall weather and all the foliage," Stuckey said of his IU harrier days. "As for track, it was great to see the kids go out and compete. It's always a different experience at the collegiate level and it was a nice opportunity to help kids learn how to succeed at this level."

His family has also been associated with the Hoosiers following high school. Stuckey has been married to his wife, Pat, for 47 years and has three children, Jeff, Jon and Jennifer, who each attended IU. Stuckey also has seven grandchildren.

Jeff Stuckey was an IU lettermen and a manager with the Hoosiers' basketball team from 1984-86 and Jon Stuckey earned letters with the basketball team from 1989-92. Jennifer Stuckey was an IU letter winner as a manager with the IU tennis team from 1993-94.

Stuckey mentioned that he was happy that his family carried on the IU tradition and was glad they could be there while he was honored and was pleasantly surprised when his kids purchased a brick with his name on the walkway outside of the new athletic stadium on the IU campus.

"(My kids) really surprised me by purchasing a brick in my honor," Stuckey said. "It was a nice experience, and I was glad they and my grandkids could be there with me."