Truman Spain

Truman Foy "Big Dog" Spain (January 10, 1913 – February 12, 1968) was an American football tackle.

Truman Spain
Born:January 10, 1913
Died:February 12, 1968
McLean, Texas
Career information
Position(s)Tackle
CollegeSouthern Methodist University
NFL draft1936 / Round: 4 / Pick: 30
Drafted byPittsburgh Pirates
Career highlights and awards
Honors1935 College Football All-America Team

He played college football at Southern Methodist University and was a member of the undefeated 1935 SMU team that was recognized as the national champion. At the end of the 1935 season, Spain was selected by Grantland Rice for Collier's Weekly and by a board of coaches for Pathé News as a first-team player on the 1935 All-America college football team.[1][2] He was also selected as a second-team All-American by the Associated Press.[3][4]

When the 1935 SMU team was invited to play in the 1936 Rose Bowl, Spain received coverage for his good looks. One syndicated feature article compared Spain to Clark Gable under the headline: "If Movie Colony Grabs Off One Of Mustangs, It Likely Will Be Clark Gable Spain."[5] The article noted that Spain was "all man" and reported on the reaction of co-eds to his "rumba king" good looks: "This Spain fellow, young ladies, is definitely of the Latin type except that instead of being sleek he is as hard as ship's steel and as torrid as a foundry furnace. . . . No mere man could use the correct expression, but a co-ed said: 'His large, black eyes burn into you and make you feel that something is going to happen.'"[5][6] In late January 1936, the publicity drew an offer for Spain to enter the boxing game, which he turned down. Spain said he was due a movie tryout, and "a bunged-up face wouldn't be any help in Hollywood, unless Truman wanted a gangster role."[7]

After retiring from football, Spain worked as an oil drilling contractor in Ardmore, Oklahoma.[8] He died in 1968 of an apparent heart attack at age 55.[8]

References
  1. "Inwood Smith Selected For Collier's 'American: Ohio State Guard One of Three Middlewestern Players Honored; Year Termed 'Greatest'". Circleville Herald. 1935-12-12.
  2. "Inwood Smith on Pathe All-America". Mansfield News Journal. 1935-12-09.
  3. Alan Gould (1935-12-07). "Southwest Conference Lands Two Men on All-America: Lester and Wilson Make First Eleven; McCauley, Spain Placed on Second Team; Baugh, Wallace on Third". Galveston Daily News.
  4. Jack Singer (1935-12-22). "Real All-American of 1935 Season Selected". Los Angeles Times.(The Consensus All-American team was based on the following scoring system: 5 points for a first-team selection; 3 points for a second-team selection; and 1 point for a third-team selection. The All-American teams reviewed for the consensus team were AP, UP, INS, NEA, North American Newspaper Alliance, All-America Board, Collier's, Bill Corum's symposium, and Fritz Crisler.)
  5. "If Movie Colony Grabs Off One Of Mustangs, It Likely Will Be Clark Gable Spain". Abilene Daily Reporter. 1935-12-13.
  6. Tom Beasley (1935-12-27). "Matty Bell Says His Mustangs in Tip-Top Condition: Autograph Seekers Swamp Coach; Spain is Center of Attention". Big Spring Daily Herald.
  7. "Tom Beasley Around And About The Sports Circuit". Big Spring Daily Herald. 1936-01-30.
  8. "SMU Grid Hero Dies in McLean". Amarillo Globe-Times. 1968-02-13.
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