Speedy Speer
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James Harrel "Speedy" Speer (March 5, 1895 – September 2, 1976) was a college football player for the Furman Paladins of
Furman University Furman University is a private liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1826 and named for the clergyman Richard Furman, Furman University is the oldest private institution of higher learning in South Carolina. It became ...
and a high school football coach. He was elected to the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1974, and the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981.


Furman

Citizens of Greenville raised the money for his college tuition, making him the first player ever recruited to
Furman University Furman University is a private liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1826 and named for the clergyman Richard Furman, Furman University is the oldest private institution of higher learning in South Carolina. It became ...
. Speer also played basketball, baseball, and
track Track or Tracks may refer to: Routes or imprints * Ancient trackway, any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity * Animal track, imprints left on surfaces that an animal walks across * Desire path, a line worn by people taking the shorte ...
. He was
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
of the football team for two years, the basketball team two years, and the baseball team one year. Contemporary opinion held Speer as the greatest athlete in school history.


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.


1920

Before the season, he and coach Laval spent time at the University of Illinois learning strategy. From the halfback position, he helped lead the 1920 team to a 9–1 record, outscoring opponents 286–16 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.


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. In 1942 his South Carolina team won the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Speer, Speedy 1895 births 1976 deaths American football halfbacks American football quarterbacks American men's basketball players Furman Paladins baseball players Furman Paladins men's basketball players Furman Paladins football players College men's track and field athletes in the United States High school football coaches in South Carolina All-Southern college football players Players of American football from Greenville, South Carolina Players of American football from Winston-Salem, North Carolina Basketball players from Winston-Salem, North Carolina Baseball players from Winston-Salem, North Carolina