Draft:Denny Spellecy
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Dennis V. "Denny" Spellecy (died October 7, 1998) was an American sports journalist, executive, and promoter based in Spokane, Washington. He worked as acting sports editor of The Spokesman-Review, business manager of the Spokane Indians, and general manager of Playfair Race Course. He also helped establish the Greater Spokane Sports Association and served as president of the Spokane Public Relations Council.[1]
Early life and journalism career
[edit]Spellecy grew up near Spokane's Natatorium Park and gained admission to baseball games by carrying equipment bags for players. He attended North Central High School and began working for The Spokesman-Review as a messenger in its advertising department in 1937. He later worked as a copy boy, reporter, and sports editor.[1] His bylined reporting included coverage of the 1946 Pacific Coast Conference basketball championship series between California and Idaho.[2] In late 1957, he contributed a series of reports about the Western International Hockey League and its Spokane Flyers to The Hockey News.[3][4]
He entered the United States Navy in 1942 and was stationed as an aviation cadet at Gonzaga University by January 1944. He was later wounded while serving in the Pacific and returned to the newspaper in September 1945, becoming acting sports editor with a one-person staff.[1][5]
Spellecy was working on the newspaper's sports desk on June 24, 1946, when a bus crash on Snoqualmie Pass killed nine members of the Spokane Indians organization, and he wrote the newspaper's initial reports about the accident.[6] That summer, he accompanied amateur baseball player Lou Damman to Brooklyn for the 1946 Brooklyn Against the World sandlot series at Ebbets Field.[7]
Sports and promotional career
[edit]By April 1947, Spellecy was serving as business manager of the Spokane Indians.[8] The team drew 287,185 spectators that season, breaking its own national Class B attendance record.[1] A surviving opening-day photograph from April 1947 shows Spellecy with manager Ben Geraghty, team owner Sam Collins, former manager Glenn Wright, and Tacoma manager Red Harvel during the club's first season following the 1946 crash.[6]
Spellecy returned to the Indians in 1949 and continued to work for the club seasonally. A surviving 1949 Spokane Indians publication identified him as the club's business manager and included him in photographs of the team's management and personnel.[9] His promotions included a home-plate wedding for catcher Jack Parks and Betty Tibbett.[1] He also managed several Spokane entertainment and civic venues. While managing the Greek-American Club, he was reported to be the first venue operator in the region to book the all-Black Will Mastin Trio, which featured a young Sammy Davis Jr.[1] He later managed the Spokane Ice Arena and the Spokane Elks Lodge; during his tenure, the lodge grew to more than 8,500 members and became the largest Elks lodge in the United States.[1]
Spellecy joined Playfair Race Course as public relations director and concessions manager in 1963. He became its general manager in 1975 and remained in the position until the track was sold in 1981.[1]
Civic work and recognition
[edit]Spellecy and Spokane educator George Werner helped form the Greater Spokane Sports Association. Spellecy served as the association's president and chaired its first eight Inland Empire Sports Awards banquets beginning in 1948, as well as at least two later banquets. He was also a past president of the Spokane Public Relations Council.[1]
In 1969, the Inland Empire Sports Writers and Broadcasters recognized Spellecy for 25 years of service. He was later named to the Inland Empire Sports Hall of Fame's Scroll of Honor.[1]
Death
[edit]Spellecy died of pancreatic cancer in Hood River, Oregon, on October 7, 1998, at age 78.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Price, Jim (October 9, 1998). "Spellecy, 78, Dies Of Cancer: Ardent Sports Enthusiast Was Key Figure In GSSA". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ Spellecy, Denny (March 12, 1946). "Bears take Pacific Coast championship with win over Idaho, 55 to 36". The Spokesman-Review. p. 9. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Spellecy, Denny (November 16, 1957). "WIHL's Spokane Has 2000 Season Ticket Customers". The Hockey News. p. 11.
- ↑ Spellecy, Denny (December 21, 1957). "Spokane Bulge Now Six Points; Rossland Most Improved Squad". The Hockey News. p. 11.
- ↑ "Sports writer wounded". Lethbridge Herald. May 17, 1945. p. 10. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- 1 2 Price, Jim (September 3, 2026). "Timely photos emerge recalling era following bus crash 80 years ago that killed nine members of Spokane Indians". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ Cohen, Alan. "Brooklyn Against the World: Ebbets Field Welcomes Young Stars in 1946". Baseball Research Journal. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Hollywood Stars Return Milt Cadinha to Spokane". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. Walla Walla, Washington. Associated Press. April 3, 1947. p. 12. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Spokane Baseball Team" (PDF). Minor League Baseball. 1949. p. 15. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
Category:1998 deaths Category:American public relations people Category:American sports executives and administrators Category:American sports journalists Category:People from Spokane, Washington Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II