Speedy Speer

American football player and coach (1895–1976)
James H. Speer
Speer while playing for Furman
Furman Paladins
PositionHalfback/Quarterback
ClassGraduate
Personal information
Born:(1895-03-05)March 5, 1895
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Died:September 2, 1976(1976-09-02) (aged 81)
Greenville, South Carolina
Career history
CollegeFurman (1916–1921)
Career highlights and awards

James Harrel "Speedy" Speer (March 5, 1895 – September 2, 1976)[1][2] was a college football player for the Furman Paladins of Furman University and a high school football coach. He was elected to the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1974,[3][4] and the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981.[5]

Furman

Citizens of Greenville raised the money for his college tuition, making him the first player ever recruited to Furman University.[6] Speer also played basketball, baseball, and track. He was captain of the football team for two years, the basketball team two years, and the baseball team one year.[3] Contemporary opinion held Speer as the greatest athlete in school history.[7]

Football

Speer was a running back, playing quarterback and halfback on Billy Laval's Furman Purple Hurricane.

1919

Speer was selected All-Southern quarterback by Atlanta Journal sporting editor Morgan Blake in 1919.[8]

1920

Before the season, he and coach Laval spent time at the University of Illinois learning strategy.[9] From the halfback position, he helped lead the 1920 team to a 9–1 record, outscoring opponents 286–16[10] and losing only to SIAA champion Georgia. Teammates included quarterback Milton McManaway and lineman Manning Jeter.

Baseball

Speer batted .400 in each of his three seasons on the baseball team.[11]

High school football

Speer coached at Greenville High School for 21 years, taking his team all the way to the state final in 1938 and 1944.[3] In 1942 his South Carolina team won the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.[11]

References

  1. ^ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 [database on-line] Registration State: South Carolina; Registration County: Greenville; Roll: 1877665; Draft Board: 2
  2. ^ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014 [database on-line]. Number: 248-12-0772; Issue State: South Carolina; Issue Date: Before 1951.
  3. ^ a b c "'Speedy' Speer Named To Hall". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. May 4, 1974.
  4. ^ "Honorees".
  5. ^ "Furman Athletic Hall of Fame".
  6. ^ 2014 Furman Paladins Record Book. p. 105.
  7. ^ Bill Sharp (May 15, 1921). "Furman Hero Is Speedy Speer Of Winston-Salem". Winstom-Salem Journal. p. 11. Retrieved March 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ "All-Southern Elevens". Spalding Football Guide. Shawnee Mission, Kansas, NCAA Publishing Service. 1920. pp. 41, 69, 27, 67.
  9. ^ "Billy Laval Lines Up Furman Outfit; Speedy Speer Back". The Charlotte Observer. September 16, 1920. p. 10. Retrieved March 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ Ernie Trubiano (7 December 2009). South Carolina Sports Legends. Arcadia. p. 44. ISBN 9781439637746.
  11. ^ a b ""Speedy" Speer Named To S. C. Hall of Fame". The Index-Journal. May 3, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved March 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon

External links

  • v
  • t
  • e
Furman Paladins starting quarterbacks
  • Townl
  • H. P. Young (1891)
  • Sharps
  • No team (1903–12)
  • Speedy Speer
  • Milton McManaway
  • Whitey Rawl
  • Bob Smith
  • June Scott
  • Rhoten Shetley
  • Sam Wyche (1964–1965)
  • Clyde Hewell (1966–1968)
  • Cleve Hightower (1969)
  • John DeLeo (1970–1971)
  • Charles Elvington (1972–1974)
  • David Whitehurst (1973–1976)
  • David Henderson (1977–1979)
  • Tim Sorrells (1979–1981)
  • David Charpia (1981–1983)
  • Bobby Lamb (1983–1985)
  • Keith Moore (1986–1987)
  • Frankie DeBusk (1988–1990)
  • Patrick Baynes (1989)
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  • Philly Jones (1991–1995)
  • Braniff Bonaventure (1994–1996)
  • Brent Rickman (1997–1998)
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