Play ball!

Spry is a tremendous fan of college baseball, and he is highly regarded in the college baseball community. His name also is syn-

onymous with the NCAA College World Series, an event he considers a "long-running fond memory."

"I have witnessed 444 College World Series games, which is more than any other staff member and exceeded only by Jack Payne, the public-address announcer," Spry said.

Spry was the media coordinator at first, then he was the administrator of the championship. He still recalls how thrilling it was to sit in the press box at Rosenblatt Stadium during a strong windstorm. It became a little less thrilling when he discovered that the roof wasn't exactly built for a press box. But, he says, it's not like he ever fell off or anything.

When Spry became the Association's chief financial officer in 1974 -- a position he held for 18 years -- he continued to be the CWS administrator. "I thought that was in perpetuity, but forever didn't last that long," Spry said.

So when he was no longer the administrator, he asked Byers if he could take vacation days to attend and be the official scorer. "He agreed to do that, but he said I had to sit out 1980. I couldn't even be in town. But since then I have been the official scorer, and I have been proud to do that."

After Spry's retirement, he will continue to be the tournament's official scorer. "I assume I'll do that as long as I'm competent. And I hope I have the good sense to figure it out when I'm not."

One of Spry's favorite memories of the CWS was last year when he helped honor longtime announcer Jack Payne for his 500th game. Spry took over the microphone and honored Payne, and ESPN held its commercial to cover the moment. "It was one of the things I enjoyed doing," Spry said. "Jack's folksy, good-humored approach has, I think, just become a part of the College World Series."

As has its official scorer.

Spry's roots are part of NCAA family tree

Spry's family has sort of become family to many NCAA staff members. Over the years they have attended numerous NCAA functions, been involved in the work of events and Conventions and even worked for the Association.

"I really respect his kindness and thoughtfulness to his wife and children," said longtime assistant Nancy Roll. "He did a good job balancing the demands of his family and of his work place."

Spry has been married to his wife, Marilyn Spry, for nearly 37 years, and she often has assisted him with NCAA events. The two of them are remembered as gracious hosts who really knew how to plan a party.

"There's not a lot of people who've worked the same place for 32 years and been married to the same person for 37 years," Spry said. "I had the good sense to marry the valedictorian of her high-school class, so that's why the kids are all smarter than I am."

The Sprys have three grown children:

"The NCAA has really been an important part of our lives, because it has been so important to him," said Hoffman, who was only 18 months old when her father began at the Association. "Dad had to travel a lot, but he always took the time to talk to us when we needed him. We knew he loved his job, and we didn't feel like we were missing out on anything.

"One of the fun memories the three of us have is the time when my mom was in the hospital and my dad would take us to the office with him at night. We would play hide and seek in the dark office and we made friends with the janitor. It was a lot of fun."

Spry recalls using his abilities with numbers to teach his children lessons about life when they were young.

"I've always been good at working numbers in my head. I could calculate our bill in my head faster than (clerks) could on paper," he said, recalling times that he showed the children how to count up the bill and correct the clerks' mistakes.

"I thought it was an important lesson to them that you don't knowingly take advantage of somebody. And I thought it was important for the kids to understand that you pay what you owe."

-- Kay Hawes