George B. Sparkman Jr. Explained

George B. Sparkman
Coach Team1:Hillsborough High School
Coach Years1:?
Coach Team2:Florida (assistant)
Coach Years2:1919
Coach Team3:Hillsborough High School
Coach Years3:1923
Player Positions:End/Halfback
Player Team1:Auburn
Player Years1:1908
Birth Date:31 January 1886
Birth Place:Tampa, Florida
Death Place:Miami, Florida

George Bascom Sparkman Jr. (January 31, 1886  - July 7, 1924) was an American football player and coach, once a key figure in Florida athletics. Sparkman played and later coached at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, posting wins over rival St. Pete.[1] [2] Among his pupils at Hillsborough High were Dutch Stanley and Speedy Walker. Sparkman assisted the 1919 Florida Gators football team.[3] He played for coach Mike Donahue's Auburn Tigers football team in 1908. He possibly saved a touchdown by recovering a fumble against Sewanee at the 2-yard line.[4] He also ran for a 65-yard touchdown against Georgia Tech.[5] Sparkman died at the age of just 38 of tetanus.[6]

Early years

George Bascom Sparkman Jr. was born to George Sr., an attorney and mayor of Tampa, and Mary Elizabeth Kershaw on January 31, 1886. He married Pearl Luther of Albertville, Alabama.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hillsborough Terriers . 2015-09-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065133/http://bigcountypreps.com/181/team-history/hillsborough-terriers/ . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  2. News: Hillsborough Too Strong For St. Petersburg Team. The Evening Independent. October 22, 1923.
  3. News: Nightshirt Parade Celebrates Mercer's 48 to 0 Defeat. The Florida Alligator. October 24, 1919.
  4. "Auburn Downs Mountain Men", Montgomery Advertiser, October 25, 1908.
  5. News: Auburn Beats Yellow Jackets. Atlanta Constitution. 4. November 8, 1908. September 10, 2015. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Geo. Sparkman's Death is Loss To Florida Athletics. The Miami News. July 9, 1924.
  7. Web site: UF Digital Collections.