 Sperry in 1961 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1925-09-14)September 14, 1925 Osawatomie, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | May 12, 2021(2021-05-12) (aged 95) Pittsburg, Kansas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1946–1948 | Kansas |
| Position | End[1][2][3] |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1957–1961 | Shawnee |
Jacob Bryan Sperry (September 14, 1925 – May 12, 2021) was an American football player and coach.
Life and career
Sperry was born in Osawatomie, Kansas, the son of Peter Everett Sperry and Lulu Olleva Fink. He was an infantryman in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.[4] After his honorable discharge,[5] he attended the University of Kansas, playing for the Kansas Jayhawks football team from 1946 to 1948,[6] and graduating in 1950.[7]
Sperry served as head football coach at Shawnee Mission North High School from 1957 to 1961.[1][7] After coaching at Shawnee Mission, he worked as an associate professor of mathematics at Pittsburg State University, retiring in 1995.[8]
In 2015, at age 89, Sperry gained significant national attention after scoring his dream touchdown in a football game at the University of Kansas. The Washington Post named his touchdown as "the greatest touchdown in Kansas football history".[6]
Personal life and death
In 1950, Sperry married Reita Mlle Hinkel. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2004.[9]
Sperry died on May 12, 2021 in Pittsburg, Kansas, at the age of 95.[9][10]
References
- ^ a b "S.-M. Schools Pick 2 Coaches: Guy V. Barnes Gives Up Football Post to Bryan Sperry". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. November 27, 1957. p. 10. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "North Grid Coach Quits". The Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. January 19, 1961. p. 30. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ The Associated Press (April 28, 2015). "89-Year-Old Veteran Wins Big With Touchdown At Kansas Alumni Game". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ Dodd, Rustin (April 26, 2015). "At age 89, former KU football player Bryan Sperry scores touchdown in alumni scrimmage". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "Jacob Bryan Sperry". Brenner Mortuary. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Larimer, Sarah (April 29, 2015). "This 89-year-old World War II vet scored the greatest touchdown in Kansas football history". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Bryan Sperry Resigns Grid Post at North". The Olathe News. Olathe, Kansas. January 10, 1961. p. 7. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Colleagues share memories of long-time math teacher". Pittsburg State University. May 19, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
- ^ a b "Jacob Sperry Obituary (1925-2021)". The Morning Sun. May 13, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Legacy.com.
- ^ "Jacob Bryan Sperry". Echovita. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
