Tom "Tommy" G. Restle (1931-2000)

Maumee Ohio

Tom Restle graduated from Maumee High School in 1949. He was married to Merle and they had two daughters, Linda Tracy and Jodi Pahl. Unfortunately Tom and his wife have passed away.

While a student at Maumee High School, Tom earned varsity letters in Baseball 4 years, Track 4 years and Football 3 years. Maumee was in the Great Northern Conference during that time. He was Hi-Y President his senior year, Vice President of Dramatics Club his senior year and class Vice President his sophomore year.

When he graduated from Maumee High School in 1949 he was drafted by the New York Yankees. He went to spring training but re-injured his right shoulder that he broke during high school, eliminating his chance of being a major league ball player.

While working for Barton Survey Company, he and his partner Dick Cummings, a close friend and teammate from Maumee High School did the surveying and staking out for the Davis Besse Power Plant. In the mid-seventies he went to work for the Lucas County Sanitary Engineers, where he designed many water and sewage lines.

He owned, operated and was the driving force behind the Restle Decoy Company, which he started in 1958. He worked hard to build a solid reputation for his quality decoys. They were sold nationwide. Eventually the company was sold in 1981.

Over the years he helped coach Little League baseball teams. He even coached his own grandson, Justin Tracy, who played baseball for Maumee High School, when he was in Little League.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He helped start the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited and in 1979 was the Ducks Unlimited Man of the year.

              Tom  teaching new hunters how to blow a duck call.               

 Tom's last decoy he carved before he passed away in 2000.

 A very nice hand carved Pintail Tom carved for his wife Merle..

  In 1979 Tom received "DU Man of the Year in 1979"

 Silver Tom Restle decoy.

 Tom Restle Metal Decoys:

There were two types Tom Restle made, a gold beryllium copper and then the polished silver. The gold/copper ones were a limited edition of only 12 , all individually numbered and signed and came with a certificate of athenticity. He gave those to various conservation groups or large customers. 

 The copper ones were in such a high demand, he decided to do another set, this time in silver. He did not want to diminish the value of the copper style, so he chose to do silver and made a higher number. The exact number is unknown.

 Gold/Copper Tom Restle decoy.

Tom's  prized Black lab Nugget. Apparently, large sums of money were offered to Tom for that dog, but he would never give him up.

Mr. Tom Restle's Decoy donation to DU in 1980 (dozen Bluebills)