Office of Development and Communications
Beverly Spear
Beverly Spear is grateful to Indiana University and the School of HPER for providing her and her husband, Richard Spear, with a wonderful life.
“Richard and I met at IU and were pinned while we were students,” says Beverly. She recalls how Richard’s fraternity serenaded them after the pinning ceremony, followed by tossing Richard into the Jordan River, a fraternity tradition—no easy feat at his 6-foot-9 height.
When Richard (B.S.‘56, M.S.‘57, Ph.D.‘58) first arrived at IU, he played on Coach Branch McCracken’s basketball team. He left school after one year to join the U.S. Army, returning three years later to continue his studies. Beverly recalls Richard’s acquaintance with Herman B Wells, then IU’s president, for whom Richard delivered newspapers. Wells facilitated Richard’s re-enrollment upon his return to Bloomington.
After his schooling at HPER, Richard became a professor of health and safety at Indiana State University. One year after Richard’s death in 2004, Beverly set up two separate gifts in his memory at HPER. The gifts, a bequest and a charitable gift annuity, will combine to create a named memorial scholarship. They also qualify for matching funds, allowing the scholarship to benefit twice as many students.
The arrangement is innovative, consistent with the creative way Beverly learned to accomplish goals over the years in her various positions as a former high school and middle school teacher, a dean of students, an assistant principal, and a coordinator of student services.
The gifts have brought great satisfaction to Beverly. “Richard and I led a good life. Because of IU, we were productive and successful. Giving back to the university and its students is a truly satisfying way to convey our gratitude.”
