Harry Spencer was a columnist for the Sparks Tribune for many years. His family wrote the obituary below.
A student-athlete who graduated from the University of Nevada, with writing in his veins, “shuffled off this mortal coil” when Harry Spencer passed away on August 20 at the age of 95.
Harry’s father was in the Coast Guard, so as a child he traveled the East Coast with his parents and lived in New York, Connecticut, West Virginia, Mississippi and New Jersey until graduating from grammar school in 1940. Then, the family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL where he attended St. Anthony’s Catholic High School and was captain of the state championship basketball team.
Harry became an Air Corps Cadet in 1943 and was put in the reserves until his eighteenth birthday. In the summer of 1944, following graduation from high school, he entered the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program and spent the summer at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn).
In December of 1944 he received a basketball scholarship from the University of Nevada (Coach Jim Aiken), and spent the spring semester at the U of N. Despite cadet status, he was drafted into the U.S. Army on his eighteenth birthday. Harry engaged in basic training at Camp Blanding, FL in the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Division. He shipped out to Pusan, Korea in December of 1945 and spent the following year there as an Intelligence Sergeant.
He returned to the U.S. in January of 1947 and attended Broward Business College in Ft. Lauderdale. In the fall of 1947 he returned to the University of Nevada. Harry played basketball at Nevada as well as in the Reno City League and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1951.
Following a “blind date” on a tennis court in 1949 (and several additional chaperoned dates), Harry married Ann Richardson in October of 1950 and the two spent 70 years together. During that time they had six children. The family lived in Reno and Incline Village.
From 1950 to 1957, Harry was the editor of the state’s largest weekly newspaper, The Nevada Register. During this time period, he also served as Reno City Basketball and Softball Commissioner. From 1952 to 1960 he owned and published the weekly entertainment guide, Reno This Week. In 1958, he opened and operated his own public relations and advertising agency.
Additionally, Harry served as the charter president of the Reno Ad Club, charter president of the Reno Media Press Club, charter director of the Reno Better Business Bureau, charter member of the Reno Chamber of Commerce Promotion Committee, president of the Sierra Nevada Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association, co-president of Reno’s “Good Old Days” G.O.D. Club, public information officer for Attorney Les Fry—National Commander of the VFW, weekly columnist for the Sparks Tribune, Comstock Chronicle and Reno Gazette-Journal, monthly writer for the Senior Spectrum magazine and Nevada Pack Edge magazine, writer for the University of Nevada Oral History Program and Reno/Tahoe Visitor book as well as charter director of the Reno Chapter of the Navy League.
Harry’s favorite career highlights include producing a live remote segment on the Ed Sullivan Show from the Sky Room of the Mapes Hotel, director of the International Olympic Press Club during the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, committee member of the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay from Squaw Valley to Reno, performing public relations for the cast and crew of “The Misfits” in 1960 during filming in northern Nevada, managing world movie premiers including “Let’s Make Love”, “The Misfits”, “Downhill Racer”, “Bonanza” (TV); casting and location for movies “Mr. Belvedere Goes to College”, “Apartment For Peggy” and “Route 66” (TV); serving as liaison to the Press for Frank Sinatra, Sr. during the Frank Sinatra, Jr. kidnapping, lead actor and casting director for a United Airlines 60-second commercial that aired nationally including two Super Bowls, charter director of the Virginia City Camel Races, charter marketing director of the Reno National Championship Air Races, director of the Reno Rodeo Promotion Committee and director of the Advertising Association of the West.
Producing and directing special events, as well as fundraising for charities associated with the special events, were areas Harry excelled in as he was the director of the “Ski Champion” day held at Mt. Rose Ski Resort, producer of the Reno Pro Polo Indoor Match, director for Mapes Invitational Golf Tournaments, director of Reno’s “Silver Spurs” awarded to the best western movie/television actor, advertising and publicity for the Shrine Circus, director National Synchronized Swimming Championships, producer of Reno Truck Show, marketing for Unlimited Hydroplane Races at Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake, director of “Reno Day” promotion at Bay Meadows Race Track, public relations for International Snail Races in San Francisco, director of the National Championship Snowmobile Races at Incline Village and director of the Clint Eastwood Celebrity Tennis Tournament.
Clients Harry represented include: Mapes Hotel, Cal-Neva Lodge, Club Cal-Neva, Riverside Hotel, Palace Club, Primadonna Club, Hyatt Lake Tahoe, Tropicana Hotel (Las Vegas), Anderson Dairy, Crescent Creamery, Valley Bank, Pioneer Citizens Bank, American Federal Savings and Loan, Dean Witter, Sproul Homes, Stremmel Porsche/Volkswagen, Reno Sparks New Car Dealers Association, Reno Furniture, Gray Reid’s, Washoe County Fair and Recreation Board, March of Dimes, St. Mary’s Hospital, Blue Ribbon Markets, Davis Lake Subdivision, King’s Castle, Sierra Wine & Liquor, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Reno, New China Club, Tahoe Racquet Club and Reno Airport concessions.
Harry had a penchant for politics and he thoroughly enjoyed managing campaigns for candidates at the local, state and federal level. He especially enjoyed writing their speeches and preparing candidates for debates, while they were on the campaign trail. Harry’s favorite celebrities to work with were Clark Gable, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Shirley Temple, Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Rowan & Martin, Ray Bolger and the “Bonanza” cast. His favorite athletes to associate with were Sonny Liston, “Mean” Joe Green, Pancho Gonzales, Rod Laver, Rick Barry, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Jensen and “Dandy Don” Meredith.
After competing in basketball and boxing, Harry’s favorite sports to play competitively were tennis, squash and racquetball. He found watching the sport of pickleball very entertaining and thought its recent popularity was a great development for racquet sports. His favorite teams to support and root for were every Nevada Wolf Pack sports team, the Golden State Warriors, S.F. 49ers and S.F. Giants. His favorite food was steak and potatoes. Harry travelled the world with his wife Ann and his favorite place to visit was Lake Tahoe, especially sitting at the end of a pier enjoying a cocktail and conversing with others and watching the waves roll in after a full day of tennis and boating.
With a wall full of awards, the three that stood out for him were a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Truckee Meadows Community College Special Events Class, induction into the Hall of Fame from the American Marketing Association and being the National Award Winner for newspaper layout and copywriting.
Harry was born May 1927 in Staten Island New York, to parents Margaret and Henry Spencer. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ann and two of his sons, Hugh and Paul. He is survived by four children; Molly, Ginny (Geno), Zach (Elaine), Luke (Sandy). Six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Angel of Angel’s Angels for her final care. Also, thank you to Eden Hospice.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Keep Tahoe Blue via its website: www.keeptahoeblue.org
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince:
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!” (Shakespeare’s Hamlet 5.2.302-03)
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