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. 1 2 3 "'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. 1 2 ""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
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