Jerry Spann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jerry Garland Spann (August 13, 1912 – January 5, 1968) was an American chess administrator and businessman. He served as president of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) from 1957 to 1960 and also served as a vice-president of FIDE. He is credited with saving the USCF from bankruptcy. The Jerry Spann Memorial Tournament is held in Oklahoma each year in his honor.
Spann was born on August 13, 1912 in North Carolina. He attended college at the University of Southern California, graduating in 1933. He participated in track and field as well as football. It was at this time he met and became a life-long friend of John Wayne. He chose USC over the University of Oklahoma because OU did not offer football scholarships in those early days and Jerry desired to receive a scholarship. He played blocking back for the All-American halfback Erny Pinckert.[1] His team won the 1932 Rose Bowl game against Tulane University when Spann assisted Pinckert with blocks that allowed USC to pull off a pair of double reverses that produced touchdown runs. Spann was on the USC team when they won the 1930 Rose Bowl game against the University of Pittsburgh.
Later years
During World War II, he served as a Navy officer reaching the rank of Lt. Commander in the aviation branch. He met his wife Alice, who died in 2011, while serving in the Navy.[2] Born to the couple were four daughters: Toni Spann Fuller, Jeri Spann, Susan Spann, and Cathy Spann.[3] After the war, he relocated to Oklahoma City to open what would soon become a prosperous building supply firm named Bissell Builders Supply. He expanded the business by opening stores in Norman, where he had his residence, as well as Tulsa. The firm specialized with their patented revolving door, many of which were sold to hotels and large office buildings.[1]