Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
Some people have wisdom beyond their age and the ability to listen to trusted mentors. After having an outstanding senior football season at Smyrna High School in Marietta, Georgia, Marvin Spears had numerous full football scholarship offers to Division I football programs. Listening to the advice of family members and his high school guidance counselor, Marvin chose to forego the limelight of Division I football and attend Rhodes College. We are so glad he did. Marvin was great for Rhodes College, and Rhodes College made a lasting impact on Marvin’s personal and professional life.
Marvin was a four-year letterman for the Rhodes track and field team, where he earned All College Athletic Conference (CAC) titles in the high jump and triple jump. His leap of 6’8 ½” at the 1990 CAC track meet set a school record, which stood for ten years. Marvin also won the triple jump title that day at Centre College, which helped the Lynx capture the CAC Track and Field team championship.
At 6’3”, 180 lbs, with excellent speed and great jumping ability, there’s no question Marvin was a gifted athlete. But what made him such a great defender was his football IQ and second sense of how routes and plays were unfolding in front of him. Marvin was often aligned to cover the opponents’ best wide receivers, and usually in a man-to-man, one-on-one coverage. When he was a junior and senior, opponents just quit throwing to Marvin’s side. He was named All College Athletic Conference in 1988 and 1989, when the Lynx compiled 8-1 and 7-1 regular season records, and was a member of the 1988 team that participated in the NCAA Division III National Playoffs.
Not only was Marvin a great athlete, he was an exceptional student. Marvin received the Seidman Trophy in 1990, which is awarded to the senior who achieves the most outstanding record in academics and athletics at Rhodes.
We are thankful to Marvin’s family and friends, who encouraged and supported him while he attended Rhodes, and we are grateful to Marvin for his support and engagement with his alma mater. For his athletic and academic accomplishments, Rhodes is honored to induct Marvin E. Spears into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 19th day of October, 2012.
