Coach Who Led Pflugerville Panthers To Historic 55-Game Winning Streak Killed In Crash

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — The football coach who led the Pflugerville High School Panthers to a historic 55 straight wins in the late 1950s and early 60s died in a car crash on Thursday, according to reports.

Charles Kuempel, 85, died in a car crash near Coupland, Texas, a city in southeastern Williamson County, KXAN and other media outlets reported.

Department of Public Safety officials said Kuempel was driving at an unsafe speed in approaching a curve, losing control of his vehicle near the intersection of County Road 459. Kuempel tried taking corrective action as his car spun out of control, only to end up in a ditch after being ejected, police said, adding that he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Kuempel was pronounced dead at the scene. On Friday, Pflugerville ISD officials sent a letter to the community notifying of Kuempel's death.

Under his leadership, the Panthers won 55 consecutive games from 1958 to 1962, setting a national record for most games won in a row. The record still stands today as the second-longest winning streak in Texas high school football.

It was just last week that Kuempel celebrated the 55th anniversary of the historic winning streak with many of his former players.

Kuempel is survived by his wife, Gloria, and other family members. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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>>> Image via Pflugerville ISD