James Wyatt “Spider” Thurman
Although recruited by University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee and Louisiana State University, James Wyatt “Spider” Thurman elected to attend Eastern Kentucky State College to play for Coach Rome Rankin. Coach Rankin considered Spider his most outstanding player in any sport. 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 team 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 M.A. from EKU in 1952. Special Collections & Archives Room 126, John Grant Crabbe Main Library archives.eku.edu | library.eku.edu/support | (859) 622-1792
October 2018