Hall of Fame Focus: Maynard (Skip) Spence

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- A total of six former Willamette University student-athletes, along with two former coaches and two teams, will be inducted into the WU Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2009. The induction ceremony is set for Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Salem Conference Center/Phoenix Grand Hotel. Until then, each day in the Hall of Fame Focus we will highlight one of the individuals or teams selected for induction.

When Oct. 24 arrives, the inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Willamette (6-1, 3-0 NWC) versus Linfield College (6-0, 3-0 NWC) football game at McCulloch Stadium. Afterward, the induction ceremony at the Conference Center will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. (PDT). The induction dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Maynard Skip Spence
1958-59
Track and Field

Spence competed for two seasons in track and field before a hamstring injury ended his Willamette athletic career. He set Willamette records in the 100-yard dash in 9.7 seconds, the 220-yard straight dash at 20.9 seconds and the high jump at 63.5. He tied the school record in the 440-yard dash with a time of 50.1 seconds.

He also was a member of the mile relay team that held the school record of 3:24.5. The relay record was set in 1958. In 1959, Spence contributed an average of 14.25 points toward Willamette's team score during six dual meets.

On Willamettes list of former events (those no longer contested at the collegiate level), Spence is tied with five other runners for first place at 100 yards, is alone in first place at 220 yards (straight) and is tied with two runners for fifth at 440 yards.