Speedy Speer
Furman Paladins | |
---|---|
Position | Halfback/Quarterback |
Class | Graduate |
Personal information | |
Born: | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | March 5, 1895
Died: | September 2, 1976 Greenville, South Carolina | (aged 81)
Career history | |
College | Furman (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
1920
Before the season, he and coach Laval spent time at the
Baseball
Speer batted .400 in each of his three seasons on the baseball team.[11]
High school football
Speer coached at
References
- ^ 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
- ^ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014 [database on-line]. Number: 248-12-0772; Issue State: South Carolina; Issue Date: Before 1951.
- ^ a b c "'Speedy' Speer Named To Hall". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. May 4, 1974.
- ^ "Honorees".
- ^ "Furman Athletic Hall of Fame".
- ^ 2014 Furman Paladins Record Book. p. 105.
- ^ "All-Southern Elevens". Spalding Football Guide. Shawnee Mission, Kansas, NCAA Publishing Service. 1920. pp. 41, 69, 27, 67.
- ISBN 9781439637746.
- ^