In Memoriam: Paul Spears, 1919 – 2006

Son, Husband, Father, Teacher. For most, he will be best known for the latter of these and even though he was a teacher to me, he will always be my father.

A simple man in every sense of the phrase. He enjoyed family, he liked sports, antiquing, puttering around the house with consequential and inconsequential projects, and just chatting with anyone. He never met anyone he couldn’t engage in conversation.

As a teacher, he touched the lives of thousands of students over his 37 years as a teacher. Many of his past students have commented on the positive influence he had in their lives.

As a father, he taught me fairness, decency and how to look out for the underdog.

I was blessed to have had him in my life for as long I did and there will always be a hole in my life because he’s no longer here. I will cherish every memory – sad, happy, funny, even silly.

Below is one of my favorite photos of him circa 1959 (2 years before I was born).

End of an Era

I've never been one to stand in the way of progress and this is one act that I didn't expect to have the emotional resonance that I felt, but when I saw the wrecking ball working on my Alma Mater, Portsmouth High School, it certainly struck me quite hard.

The building has hosted 3 generations of Spears and, in my opinion, could have hosted many more generations, but the new high school has been erected with all the modern amentities that students today deserve.

Still, I truly wish there had been a way to save the old school. Sigh....

Geocaching Crazy

Early in the year, I got exposed to a new recreational pasttime that I have taken to like a duck to water. It's called geocaching. It's a hobby where folks place objects, called caches, somewhere and mark the objects longitude and latitude using a portable GPS device. These coordinates are then posted on the web for people to look and up and then go hunting.

It's been a real family affair and Katie has taken a great liking to it. We go out "caching" several times a month.

Above is a pic of Katie and I out on a cold December day finding a cache in Portsmouth.

Spears on the move....again

After much tribulation, I decided to make what I hope to be the final move of our lives as I take a job back the the Ohio State University. After 15 years away, I took and offer that I felt I couldn't turn down to return to Ohio State. It was sad to leave Ashland. The job was great and the people were fabulous and I will surely miss them.

I started working back at OSU in the Fisher College of Business in October. My office is in the lovely Fisher Hall.

I have a great view of campus which spans down one of the main corridors to allow me to see the Main library.

My office is probably the nicest office I've ever had. Here's a nice pic of it.

My office would have a great view of the stadium....

...but this building blocks my view.

And all my attempts and communications to the president of the university to relocate or raze the building obstructing my view have been ignored. Sigh!