Ron Spears

 Ron Spears graduated from Taylorville High School in the class of 1969. During that school year, Taylorville won or tied for the conference championship in three sports, boy's basketball, football and baseball, for the first time in school history. Ron was a tri captain of the football team and co-captain of the baseball team. He earned five varsity letters at Taylorville High School, two in football and baseball and one in track.    In the fall of 1968, Taylorville returned nine football players with varsity experience and welcomed a new head coach, Don Anderson. The team in 1968 finished 2-7 but only scored 39 points and gave up 196 points. Spears' had played every down in 1968 and was elected to serve as a captain for the 1969 team, along with Willie Walker and Greg Hubbartt. In 1969, the football team experienced a complete turn around, finished 7-1-1, and tied for the conference championship. They only allowed 51 points on defense and scored 195 points on offense. Highlights of the year included a 50-0 victory over Effingham at their homecoming and a 28-7 victory over Pana. Spears' played right guard on offense, middle linebacker on defense, kicked off; punted, and was also on the punt and kick return teams. Spears' was a vocal and emotional team leader and was selected by his teammates as lineman of the year. He was selected on the All Conference Team and was named the Decatur Herald and Review Area Player of the Year in Central Illinois. He received special and honorable mention All State recognition in the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune.

In the spring of 1969, Taylorville fielded an experienced baseball team under Coach Bernard Scott. Spears' was a co-captain with Chuck Martin, another member of the THS Hall of Fame. Spears' was the catcher and called the pitches, batted clean up, and hit over .400 for the year. He played every inning, had few passed balls, and threw out numerous runners attempting to steal bases. The team clinched the conference championship by winning the final conference game of the season. Spears got a crucial hit to drive in the tying and go ahead runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Larry Micenheimer then retired the side in the top of the seventh to preserve the victory.

Whenever there was not a conflict with a baseball game, Spears' competed in the discus and shot put on the track team. He placed in the discus in the conference championships.After graduation from Taylorville High School, Spears declined opportunities to play college sports to focus on academics. He graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois and Summa Cum Laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law. He has served as a Circuit Judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit since 1993. He also has served in the Illinois Army National Guard since 1972 and is retiring May 1, 2006, as a Colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.