Carey Spicer
| Carey Spicer | |
|---|---|
|
Carey Spicer's retired jersey | |
| College | Kentucky |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Sport | Basketball, Football, Tennis, Track |
| Position | F, QB |
| Jersey # | 17 |
| Class | 1931 |
| Career | 1928–1931 |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Born |
23 April 1909 Lexington, KY |
| Died |
5 December 1996 Indianapolis, IN |
| High school | Lexington High School (Kentucky) |
| Career highlights | |
| Honors | |
| |
| Tournaments | |
| |
Carey Alvin Spicer, Jr. (April 23, 1909 – December 5, 1996) was a two-time All-American basketball player at the University of Kentucky. He captained Adolph Rupp's first team in 1930-31, and became Rupp's first All-American. He was also an All-Conference Quarterback for the football who played varsity tennis and ran track. Rupp called him "one of the greatest athletes in University of Kentucky history."[1]
Early life
Carey Alvin Spicer, Jr. was born in Lexington, KY on April 23, 1909. His father was a grocer. He, his brother William and his sister Stella were natural athletes who went on to play college basketball. William and Carey at Kentucky, and Stella at Georgetown College, one of the few schools with a women's college basketball program. Spicer was one of the top football and basketball players ever at the old Lexington High School. He made the All-State team in basketball, and 1926 All-State Tournament team and was president of his senior class.[1]
Basketball
Spicer was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference forward for the University of Kentucky basketball team. He won All-American honors under two different coaches, first John Mauer in 1929 and then Adolph Rupp in 1931. He was captain of Adolph Rupp's first basketball team in 1930-31 and was the team's leading scorer. That season he scored 27 points in a 42-37 victory over Vanderbilt. He also set the then Southern Conference record for most points in a tournament game when he scored 22 points against Florida.[1]
In 1991, Spicer was in the second class of Kentucky basketball players to have his jersey retired, along with Louie Dampier and Jack Givens.
Records
- Southern Conference - Most points, tournament game (22), record surpassed by Joe Holup in 1954
Other sports
Spicer was an excellent all-around athlete. As a halfback, and quarterback in football he set several records that stood for more than 40 years. He scored 11 touchdowns and 75 points for Kentucky to lead the Southern Conference in scoring in the 1930 season.[2] He also played tennis and ran track at Kentucky.[1]
Records
- Kentucky, most touchdowns, season (11), surpassed by Babe Parilli in 1950
- Kentucky, most points, season (75), surpassed by Moe Williams in 1995
Later life
After graduating, Spicer coached basketball for at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky from 1931 from 1935, producing a record of 12–43 over four seasons.[3] During World War II he was a captain in the United States Army. After returning from the war, he went to work for Spalding Sporting Goods Company selling equipment for a sport that he was never very good at—golf. He married Katherine Drury, his high school sweetheart, and they had two children. Spicer died December 5, 1996 from cancer.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Hewlett, Jennifer (6 December 1996). "CAREY SPICER 1909-1996". Retrieved 27 December 2014.
- ↑ "Carey Spicer Leads Dixie Grid Scorers". Sarasota Hearld-Tribune. 8 December 1930. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
- ↑ "Georgetown-ODU Game Notes" (PDF). Press Box Productions. Retrieved 27 December 2014.