Speedy Speer

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]

James H. Speer
Speer while playing for Furman
Furman Paladins
PositionHalfback/Quarterback
ClassGraduate
Career history
CollegeFurman (1916–1921)
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 highlights and awards

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. "'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.
  8. "All-Southern Elevens". Spalding Football Guide. 1920, 1921. pp. 41, 69, 27, 67. Check date values in: |year= (help)
  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.
  10. Ernie Trubiano. South Carolina Sports Legends. p. 44.
  11. ""Speedy" Speer Named To S. C. Hall of Fame". The Index-Journal. May 3, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved March 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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