Remembering 2021 Evangel University Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, the late Dr. Robert Spence. Dr. Spence served Evangel University for 40 years, from 1974 until he retired in 2014. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest tenured college president in the state of Missouri and second longest in the nation. That tenure, and his impact on Evangel athletics, did not go unnoticed—not only in the local and Springfield community, but nationally and globally. With the help of Athletic Director Dr. David Stair, Evangel saw multiple mission trips organized by the athletic department, overseas opportunities, including the football team traveling to China and Kyrgyzstan, the baseball team to Mexico, and several teams to Guatemala. 

Among his many great achievements, and highly significant for the athletic program, Dr. Spence developed the idea of adding football. Since that inaugural season in 1977, football has gained national attention as a highly competitive program. He also championed the reinstitution of men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, softball, and track and field. Numerous building projects were also completed during his tenure, with the renovation of the baseball and softball fields and the completion of the baseball and softball field house. In total, in his career, fourteen projects were overseen by Dr. Spence (that also included the Mabee Student Fitness Center, two residence halls, the Cantrell Student Union, and most recently the Riggs Administration Building).

Athletically, Evangel enjoyed success, capturing the 2002 NAIA National Championship in Men’s Basketball, the 1986 NCAA National Championship in Women’s Basketball, and advancing to two national semi-finals in football, two NAIA national semi-finals in Women’s Basketball, and individual champions in track and field.

In October 2013, during Homecoming, Evangel commemorated Dr. Spence’s legacy as University President and revered spiritual leader by formally naming the chapel building the Robert H. Spence Chapel.

For this episode, Hector and Phil interview three individuals who were there at the beginning of the football program: Jon Spence, Rich Wood, and Ed McCabe. They are members of “The Originals”, the name we use to describe our football players who played at Evangel between 1977 and 1984.