| James H. Speer | |
| Birth Date: | 5 March 1895 |
| Birth Place: | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Death Place: | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Currentposition: | Halfback/Quarterback |
| School: | Furman Paladins |
| Class: | Graduate |
| Pastschools: | Furman (1916–1921) |
| Highlights: |
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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]
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]
Speer was a running back, playing quarterback and halfback on Billy Laval's Furman Purple Hurricane.
Speer was selected All-Southern quarterback by Atlanta Journal sporting editor Morgan Blake in 1919.[8]
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.
Speer batted .400 in each of his three seasons on the baseball team.[11]
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]