Father’s Day & Ted Engel: The Toughest Man I’ve Ever Met | Engel Angle

Join Fort Worth Star Telegram’s Mac Engel on this deeply personal Father’s Day tribute as he shares the remarkable story of his 93-year-old father, Ted Engel, a Depression-era kid from Staten Island who built an extraordinary life through sheer determination and sacrifice. Mac explores themes of generational toughness, family responsibility, and what it means to be part of America’s greatest generation, revealing how his father’s journey from a dysfunctional New York household to corporate success shaped his own perspective on work, sacrifice, and what truly matters in life. This heartfelt episode from the Engel Angle podcast offers both touching family stories and broader reflections on American values, fatherhood, and the sacrifices previous generations made for their children.
00:00:00 – Introduction & Summer Economics
Mac Engel welcomes listeners to summer and launches into thoughts about Father’s Day and the American economy.
00:03:17 – Father’s Day Tribute Introduction
Mac Engel begins his tribute to his father while giving a shoutout to his mother Ann Prince.
00:04:09 – Ted Engel: The Greatest Generation
Introduction to Mac’s father Ted Engel, born in 1932, and reflections on what it takes to reach 93 years old.
00:05:58 – Depression-Era Childhood
Ted’s difficult upbringing in New York City during the Depression with an absent father and seven siblings.
00:08:05 – Brooklyn Tech & The Commute
Ted’s admission to Brooklyn Tech high school and his epic daily commute from Staten Island to Brooklyn.
00:12:13 – Navy Service & Korean Conflict
Ted joins the Navy hoping to serve in Korea and becomes a draftsman in California.
00:13:40 – Cornell University Years
Ted’s unexpected admission to Cornell as a veteran and his multiple degrees despite being an average high school student.
00:16:27 – Meeting Mom & Starting a Family
Ted meets Mac’s mother while working for Kroger in Charleston, West Virginia, and they start their large family.
00:20:47 – Career Sacrifices & Revelations
Mac learns surprising truths about his father’s academic struggles and discovers Ted’s incredible work ethic.
00:30:01 – The Big Sacrifice
Ted turns down a major promotion to Nashville to keep the family stable in Indianapolis.
00:32:04 – Retirement & Legacy
Reflections on Ted’s 38-year career, 30-year retirement, and the life lessons he taught through actions rather than words.