Career
Stute is the younger brother of trainer Warren Stute (1921–2007). His family moved to California in 1934 when Mel was seven years old. In his teens, Stute worked as a groom at Santa Anita Racetrack before winning his first race as a trainer in 1947 at Portland Meadows Racetrack in Portland, Oregon.
In 1986, Stute trained two Stute bred and trained Telly"s Population
As of 2011, Stute is still active in racing but on a much reduced scale.