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Paul Spear to receive Distinguished Service Award at Saturday's Hall of Fame Banquet
Call (740) 376-4665 to reserve your tickets today

Feb. 11, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — On Saturday (Feb. 16) evening, Paul “Doc” Spear will become the 15th recipient since 1984 to ever receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame. The ceremony will coincide with the induction of the 25th Hall of Fame Class.

This year's inductees include national-qualifying distance runner Roderick MacLeod '72, All-American baseball standout and Way-Weigelt award winner David Thomas '84, All-American defensive tackle Jason Olivea '96, Betty Cleland award winner Lee Ann Shoemaker '97 and two-time National Player of the Year and Way-Weigelt award winner Joseph Thomas '97. [Hall of Fame Biographies]

The Hall of Fame Banquet to be held Saturday evening in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center caps off a busy weekend at Marietta College, that includes a collegiate track & field meet as well as a men's and women's varsity basketball game, while also featuring a men's and women's basketball and volleyball alumni games. [Schedule of Events (.pdf)]

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the athletics office by calling (740) 376-4665 or by emailing Wendy Thieman at thiemana@marietta.edu.

After graduating from Marietta in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in biology, Spear joined the faculty at the College, only taking time off to complete his education. He did his athletic training at Ohio State and received his Masters in Medical Physiology from Ball State. He retired from Marietta in 2000.

During his 36 years with the College, Spear developed one of the premier Sports Medicine programs in the country. His program was one of the first in the nation to be accredited as a full major by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). It was also the first program in the state of Ohio to receive national recognition through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). He also founded the Physician Assistant Program at Marietta College.

In addition to his time in the classroom, Spear worked extensively with the Marietta Athletics Department, providing athletic training coverage for a variety of sports. He continues to be active with the Marietta College baseball team and is the only individual to be a member of the Etta Express’ four national championship teams.

Spear continues to own and operate SportsMed, a fully dedicated Sports Medicine and family rehabilitation center that he founded in 1986 and is located in Marietta. He and his wife Nancy, who is deceased, have three children, Amy Stanley, Megan Lankford and Kurt Spear.

The Distinguished Service Award was created in 1984. This award is designed to honor individuals who do not qualify for Hall of Fame induction, but whose outstanding service and contributions to Marietta College Athletics deserve recognition. Only 15 have been so honored over the past 24 years. They are:

1985 - Charles V. Renner, Emmett Sutton, Jr.
1986 - Howard M. Baker, Edward V. Heldman
1989 - Bill Robinson
1991 - Eugene C. Murdock
1993 - Esther "Sparkie" Walp
1994 - Vernon E. "Dan" McGrew
1995 - Paul Erb, James A. Meagle, Jr.
1996 - Bob Johnson
1997 - John A. Wharff
2002 - Larry Steinel
2005 - Doug Griebel
2008 - Paul "Doc" Spear