Odie Spears

Marion Odicca "Odie" Spears


Born:
June 17, 1924
Scottsville, KY

Died:
March 28, 1985
Louisville, KY


Career
1940-41 Scottsville High School - Kentucky (High School)
1941-42 Western Kentucky University (College)
1942-43 Western Kentucky University (College)
1943-44 Fort Bragg (Military)
1944-45 Fort Bragg (Military)
1945-46 Fort Bragg (Military) 
1946-47 Western Kentucky University (College)
1947-48 Western Kentucky University (College)
1948-49 Chicago Stags (BAA)
1949-50 Chicago Stags (NBA)
1950-51 Louisville Alumnites (NPBL)
1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1952-53 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1953-54 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)

Odie went to WKU with some some time off spent fighting World War 2 with the U.S. Army. He played pro basketball for nine seasons before becoming an insurance agent. He was 60 when he died in 1985 from a blood disease.

He married Mary Larkin and they had two daughters.

Some sources have his birthdate on June 26, 1925, but family records say he was born in 1924.

Source:
Hilltopper Haven
Courier-Journal (Louisville) - March 30, 1985

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spearod01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=spearod01