Collection Overview
Title: J. W. "Spider" Thurman Papers, 1936-1959
Creator: Thurman, James Wyatt
Extent: 0.22 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 04/30/1980
Languages: English [eng]
Scope and Contents of the Materials
These papers document the athletic career of James Wyatt "Spider" Thurman through his college career at Eastern Kentucky University and as basketball coach at Clay County High School through scrapbooks, programs, and personal correspondence.
Biographical Note
James W. 'Spider' Thurman was born in 1917 in Dayton, Tennessee, the son of a coal miner. He grew up in Benham, Harlan County, Kentucky from age seven and was given his nickname after being bitten by a spider as a child in Benham. Thurman set high school records in football, basketball and track, earning state, regional and district honors from 1934 through 1936. Thurman elected to attend Eastern Kentucky State College to play for Coach Rome Rankin. At Eastern, he directed the Maroons football team as quarterback to two Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and was named to the All-KIAC team three years and to the Little All-American football team in 1940 after leading his teams to the first undefeated and untied season in history. At Eastern he also lettered in basketball and track. He received a B.S. degree in 1941 and MA from EKU in 1952. He entered the US Army Air Corps in 1943 and served in India and Burma during the War. He was discharged from active duty as a Captain and retired from the Army Reserves as a Major. Following his military career, he began coaching at Clay County High School, where his basketball teams compiled a record of 279-54 during his twelve years as coach. He took his teams to the Kentucky State Tournament six times. He returned to Eastern in 1962, becoming its first permanent Director of Alumni Affairs and continued in that position until he retired in 1983.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Source:
Thurman, J. W.
Box and Folder Listing
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Scrapbook, 1939-1953
- Clippings and ephemera begin with Spider's career at Eastern and also include a Vmail from India and clippings about his coaching career at Clay County High School.
- Folder 2: Scrapbook, 1937-1940
- Photograph of the 1937 Benham High School graduating class, photographs of Spider Thurman alone and in team photos, news clippings, ephemera.
- Folder 1: Correspondence, 1951-1953
- Letters from William F. O'Donnell, J.D. Farris, Paul McBrayer and Tom Samuels. The latter two letters give insights into coaching philosophies and motivations of two of Eastern's prominent coaches.
- Folder 2: Correspondence - Telegrams, 1953
- Telegrams from various associates wishing the Clay County basketball team well in the regional and state tournament.
- Folder 3: Ephemera, 1936, 1953
- 2 items. Copy of a certificate from the Courier-Journal 1936 All-Kentucky Squad. Spider Thurman was selected as quarterback. Clay County High School Annual Athletic Banquet program.
- Folder 4: Kentucky High School Athletic Association Programs, 1953-1959
- 5 items. KHSAA state tournament programs for the years Clay County High School competed in the tournament with Spider Thurman as the coach.