OUR STORY
From Red Wade to Stu Stone
Our Truman's story started four generations ago when Red Wade played running back for the University of Missouri Tigers football team. Red, along with teammates Harry Ice and Bob Stueber, were the the first players to run the newly designed Split-T offensive formation under Coach Don Faurot. Red received All-American collegiate recognition during his football career.
After Red's success as a football player during his college years, he went on to fulfill his dream of becoming a football coach. He coached at Central High School in St. Joseph Missouri and went on to become the head football coach at Northeast Missouri State Teacher's College in 1951. Red holds the record for the longest tenure and the most winnings for the NMSTC Bulldogs. The team's cumulative record was 99-41-2, along with eight MIAA championships. Coach Wade has been inducted in to the football hall of fame for University of Missouri, State of Missouri, and Northeastern Missouri Teacher's College.
Our Truman's story continues in 1960 when Coach Wade recruited center Stu Stone on a full scholarship to NMSTC. Stu played football, brought the team to the Mineral Bowl in 1961, worked with Coach Wade on his family farm, and started dating Coach's daughter Judy. Stu and Judy were married in 1965 and welcomed their daughter Carrie in 1966. This was the same year Coach Wade decided to retire from coaching his beloved Bulldogs. Northeast Missouri State Teacher's College is now renamed Truman's State University.
Truman's Tap & Grill was originally named after "Truman the Tiger", the mascot of the University of Missouri Football team. When our family decided to purchase Truman's we knew there was no choice but to keep the name as "Truman the Tiger" and Truman State University is our family's history. Jason and Carrie Leitzman, along with their three children; Jason, Tyler, and Hannah; have a deeply instilled sense of family and tradition. We kept the name, simply re-established in 2021 with our Truman's story. When you read our word wall in the restaurant you will notice it begins with Red Wade and ends with Stu Stone. Now, Justin is the face of Truman's. Both his grandfather and great-grandfather are cheering him on!
