Spain, Jim

Spain graduated from Loretto High School in Tennessee where he was a two-sport standout. His athletic scholarship to Cumberland University in 1942 was cut short by World war II.
After a brief tenure in coaching, he became a pioneer in the park and recreation field. He came to Florence in 1951 and was director until 1985 with virtually every athletic field and building constructed under his direction. Softball fields were constructed in 1952 right after the football program was established in 1951. Swimming, diving, and baseball followed and in the early 1970s, McFarland Golf Course came to the scene. Gymnastics, soccer and archery programs were added in the 1970s and 1980s.
He is the only Alabamian to receive the National Recreation and Parks Professional Award, the Southeastern Parks and Recreational Professional Award and the National Recreation and Parks Society Award. He served as president of the state association, was Shoals Citizen of the Year in 1989 and Alumnus of the Year in 1979 for the University of North Alabama. He is still a fixture around the Shoals in his retirement years.