LeRoy Sprankle Collection, c.1921-1992 and undated

LeRoy Sprankle Collection
c.1921-1992 and undated
KC Manuscript Collection 330

Archives of the City of Kingsport
400 Broad Street
Kingsport, Tennessee 37660

INTRODUCTION:
Title: LeRoy Sprankle Collection, c.1921-1992 and undated

Collection Number: Kingsport Community Manuscript Collection (KCMC) 330

Physical Description: 7 boxes and 1 oversized folder, 6.5 linear feet

Creator: LeRoy Sprankle

Repository: Archives of the City of Kingsport

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:
Provenance: The materials in this collection were created and/or collected by LeRoy Sprankle, longtime coach at Kingsport High School and Dobyns-Bennett High School.  The scrapbooks were conveyed to a printer and former student, E. B. Blankenbecler, for the purpose of printing a book about Sprankle’s coaching career.  The materials were on loan to E. B. Blankenbecler at the time of Sprankle’s death in 1972.  Blankenbecler did not issue the book and after Blankenbecler’s own death, his widow, Mary Nell Blankenbecler conveyed custody of this collection to the Archives of the City of Kingsport for preservation and public use on November 16, 1999.  Custody was conveyed with no restrictions.

Access/Restrictions: There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Processed by: Kate Lukach processed the collection and developed the finding aid in April 2008.

COLLECTION CITATION:
This collection should be cited as:

LeRoy Sprankle Collection, c.1921-1992 and undated. KC Manuscript Collection 330, Archives of the City of Kingsport, Tennessee.

SCOPE AND CONTENT
The LeRoy Sprankle Collection consists of scrapbooks containing, primarily, newspaper clippings and also photographs created and compiled about his own life and coaching career.  Sprankle’s life and career in Ohio, Tennessee, and Florida are profiled in the scrapbooks.

The collection consists of thirteen scrapbooks, typed records of sports activities at Kingsport High School/Dobyns-Bennett High School, phonograph recordings of the ceremony which named the high school gymnasium in honor of Coach LeRoy Sprankle, and an audio recording of his memorial service.  There are also extensive photographs, some of them oversized, and many of which were used in the book “My Boys.”  Correspondence to Sprankle is contained in the scrapbooks.  Scrapbooks contain cards sent to him, photos of his wife, photos of his students, and other information such as the obituary of Dale Sprankle (brother of LeRoy).  Also contained in the scrapbooks are programs from various sporting events, tickets, postcards, and other mementos collected by Sprankle.  Primarily, the scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings about the coaching career of LeRoy Sprankle in Kingsport, Tennessee and Homestead, Florida.

SUBJECTS

  • Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Kingsport High School
  • School Sports
  • Sprankle, LeRoy

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I, Subject Files, c.1921-1992 and undated, box 1-3.
This series contains various documents related to Sprankle’s coaching career, including sporting event programs, high school athletic records, and drafts of his book.  The subject files are arranged alphabetically.

Series II, Scrapbooks, c.1928-1950s and undated, box 4 and 5.
This series contains 13 scrapbooks put together by LeRoy Sprankle.  The scrapbooks primarily consist of newspaper clippings, with various other mementos from school trips and games.  The scrapbooks are arranged in their original order.

Series III, Photographs and Audio Recordings, c.1920-1985 and undated, Folder 1 and box 6 and 7.
This series contains photographs used in Sprankle’s book as well as phonograph records of the dedication ceremony of the gymnasium and the audio recording from his memorial services.  The photos are arranged in their original order.

BOX AND FOLDER LIST
Series I, Subject Files, c.1921-1992 and undated, box 1-3.
Box 1
1. Advertisement, 1937
2. Athletic House Baseball Awards, 1933-1942
3. Banquet Honoring Sprankle, March 28, 1941
4. Baseball Schedules, 1933-1942
5. Baseball Scores, 1933-1942
6. Baseball Standings, 1933-1942
7. Basketball – Individual Scores, 1935-1942
8. Basketball – Schedules, 1923-1927
9. Basketball Scores, 1929-1942
10. Basketball Standings, 1929-1942
11. Basketball – Statistics, 1931-1942
12. Big 5/Big 6 – Bulletin – Lombard Tourney, February 17, 1931
13. Big 5/Big 6 – Constitution, undated
14. Big 5/Big 6 – Financial Records, 1929-1936
15. Big 5/Big 6 – Letter from Secretary to W. C. Siler, March 19, 1934
16. Big 5/Big 6 – Meeting Minutes, 1930-1940
17. Boxing, 1936-1938
18. Boys Basketball at KHS Prior to 1922, undated (2 copies)
19. Boys Who…Were Killed in World War II, undated
20. “Chapter on Brothers,” undated
21. Constitution and Bylaws of the Lettermen’s Club of K.H.S., c.1923-1924
22. Correspondences between Jitney Blankenbecler and LeRoy Sprankle, undated
23. Correspondence between Nancy Stone Lyle and Jitney Blankenbecler, undated
24. Correspondence concerning the use of photographs for book, 1969
25. Correspondence concerning Robert Cifers, 1950
26. “Cross Country Rating,” 1928-1929
27. Dobyns-Bennett High School Football Schedules, 1936-1946
28. DBHS vs. Erwin, March 7, 1936
29. Dobyns-Taylor Trophy Awarded to Big Six Conference, 1935-1941
30. Emory and Henry Cup Football Championship Big 6, 1928-1941
31. Excerpt from the Indian Tribune, February 19, 1943
32. Financial Records, 1922-1926
33. “Floreen or the Story of Mitchell” – G. W. Belk, 1916
34. Florida Basketball Trips, undated
35. Football at Kingsport High School in 1921 – Ted Blankenbecler, undated
36. Football – Individual Scores, 1934-1942
37. Football Programs, 1944
38. Football Scores, 1928-1942
39. Football Standings, 1928-1942
40. Girls Basketball, 1922
41. Golf – by Virgil Davis, undated (3 copies)
42. Golf Schedules, 1935-1939
43. Golf Standings, 1936
44. The Indian Princess, 1922
45. Interscholastic Track Meet and Field Day – Lincoln and Jackson, 1923-1927
46. Junior High Football, 1932
47. Kingsport Athletic Association, 1926-1927
48. Kingsport Athletic Association, 1927-1928
49. Kingsport Athletic Association, 1928-1929
50. Kingsport Athletic Association, 1929-1930
51. K.H.S. vs. Kingsport, 1944
52. Kingsport’s First Basketball Tournament Victory, undated
53. Kingsport’s 1921 Football Team, undated (2 copies)
54. The Kingsport Train Station: A Commemorative Edition, October 8, 1990
55. Kiwanis – Big Five Basketball Trophy, undated
56. LeRoy Sprankle Bio, undated
57. Letter from E. B. Blankenbecler to Mr. Roberts concerning Samuel Bonsack, undated
58. Letter from LeRoy Sprankle to George Peters, March 30, 1970
59. Looking at Sports with Gene Thompson, undated
60. Memorial and Scrapbook notes, undated

Box 2
1. Memorial Service for LeRoy Sprankle, 1973
2. Minutes of a Meeting of the Committee on rules and Records of the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations, June 24, 1932
3. Miscellaneous paper, undated
4. “My Boys” – Band, undated
5. “My Boys” – Baseball, undated
6. “My Boys” – Basketball – Era #1, undated
7. “My Boys” – Basketball – Era #2, undated
8. “My Boys” – Basketball – Era #3, undated
9. “My Boys” – Bio – LeRoy Sprankle, undated
10. “My Boys” – Chapter 1, undated
11. “My Boys” – Chapter 1, undated
12. “My Boys” – Chapter 1, undated
13. “My Boys” – Chapter 1, undated
14. “My Boys” – Chapter 1, undated
15. “My Boys” – Chapter 1, undated
16. “My Boys” – Chapter 3, undated
17. “My Boys” – Chapter 4, undated
18. “My Boys” – Chapter 5, undated
19. “My Boys” – Chapter 6, undated
20. “My Boys” – Florida Basketball Trips, undated
21. “My Boys” – Florida Basketball Trips, undated
22. “My Boys” – Football and Basketball, undated
23. “My Boys” – Football at Kingsport High School in 1921, undated
24. “My Boys” – Football – Era #2, undated
25. “My Boys” – Football – Era #2, undated
26. “My Boys” – Football – Era #2, undated
27. “My Boys” – Last Chapter, undated
28. “My Boys” – 1923 – Kingsport 3: Johnson City 0, undated
29. “My Boys” – 1923 – Kingsport 3: Johnson City 0, undated
30. “My Boys” – Preface, undated
31. “My Boys” – Track – Era #2, undated
32. “My Boys” – Track – Era #3, undated
33. “My Boys” – Track – Era #3, undated
34. “My Boys” – Tumbling – undated
35. National Forensic League Certificates, 1978 and 1979
36. NFL Credit Point Records, 1966
37. NFL Credit Point Records, 1967
38. NFL Credit Point Records, 1968
39. NFL Credit Point Records, 1969
40. NFL Credit Point Records, 1970
41. NFL Credit Point Records, 1971
42. NFL Credit Point Records, 1972
43. NFL Credit Point Records, 1973
44. NFL Credit Point Records, 1974
45. NFL Credit Point Records, 1975
46. NFL Credit Point Records, 1976
47. NFL Credit Point Records, 1977
48. NFL Credit Point Records, 1978
49. NFL Credit Point Records, 1979 and 1982
50. National Forensic League Documents, undated
51. National Forensic League Envelopes, undated

Box 3
1. Newsclippings from Knoxville Journal and Knoxville Sentinel, 1925
2. Newspaper clippings – Bobby Dodd, 1988 and undated
3. Newspaper clippings of photos of sports teams, various and undated
4. Newspaper clippings, various and undated
5. Notes for book, undated
6. Partial Draft of “My Boys,” undated
7. Partial Draft of “My Boys,” undated
8. Peabody Demonstration School Trophy – Basketball – Big 5, 1929-1942
9. Pep Club, undated
10. Pictures of Sports Teams, c.1920s-1941
11. Postcard, undated
12. Preface – undated
13. Program – Big Five Track Meet – April 24, 1931
14. Program – Big Five Meet – April 1932 (2 copies)
15. Program – Big Five Meet – April 21, 1933
16. Program – Big Five Meet – April 27, 1934 (2 copies)
17. Program – Big Six Track Meet – 1935
18. Program – Big Six Track Meet – April 24, 1936
19. Program – Big Six Track and Field Meet – May 14, 1937
20. Program – Dedication of Sprankle Gymnasium, January 4, 1950 (2 copies)
21. Program – Dual Meet – Kingsport vs. Knoxville, April 25, 1925
22. Program – Dual Meet – Morristown vs. Kingsport, April 8, 1933
23. Program – Kingsport Concert Band, 1926
24. Public Service Advertisement, undated
25. Resident remembers first football team – Lynn Farmen, undated
26. Rules and Schedule “Big Five” Lombard Tournament, undated
27. Score Card – Kingsport Baseball Club, 1944
28. Scrapbook page – Florida Basketball, 1933
29. Souvenir Program – First Annual Basketball Tourney – Smoky Mountain Conference, 1929
30. Tech Topics, May 1976
31. Tennis Rules and Recommendations, undated
32. Tennis Schedules, 1935-1941
33. Tennis Scores and Standings, 1936-1942
34. Track – Big Six Meets, 1929-1943
35. Track and Field Records and Points, undated
36. Track – Individual Points, 1931-1942
37. Track – Junior High, 1934-1939
38. Track Results – East Tennessee Track Meet, 1933-1942
39. Track Results – Meets above Triangular, 1925-1941
40. Track Meet Menu, 1931-1932
41. Track Records, 1923-1962
42. Track Results, 1925-1942 and undated
43. Track Results – Big5/Big 6 Meets, 1929-1942 and undated
44. Track Results – Dual Meets, 1924-1942
45. Track Results – Triangular Meets, 1931-1942
46. Track – TSSAA Results, 1933-1942
47. Tumbling – A. Frank Taylor, undated (2 copies)
48. University of Tennessee Alumni Trophy Award to Big Five Conference, 1928-1942
49. Update on Downtown, February 1992
50. “Why Bobby Dodd Jr. Isn’t Playing for His Dad” – The Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine, September 25, 1960

Series II, Scrapbooks, c.1928-1950s and undated, box 4 and 5.
Box 4
1. Scrapbook 1: Clippings 1931-1944
2. Scrapbook 2: Postcards and clippings of 1938 trip to Cuba
3. Scrapbook 3: Letters to Sprankle, info on life of Sprankle, clippings
4. Scrapbook 4: Obituary of Dale Sprankle (brother), letters, cards, telegrams, programs of sporting events, newspaper clippings
5. Scrapbook 5: Clippings pertaining to coaching career of LeRoy Sprankle
6. Scrapbook 6: Photos of 1941 Army-Navy game attended by Sprankle and some of his Kingsport students. Sprankle mementos – tickets, programs, newspaper clippings
7. Scrapbook 7: Photos, clippings of Sprankle’s career. Photos of Sprankle students, which were sent to Sprankle
8. Scrapbook 8: Clippings pertaining to Sprankle, primarily 1950s
9. Scrapbook 9: Clippings from Florida newspapers, 1944 letters to Sprankle, postcard of Homestead, Florida
10. Scrapbook 10: Clippings of coaching career of LeRoy Sprankle, 1928-1941

Box 5
1. Scrapbook 11: Clippings, letters to Sprankle
2. Scrapbook 12: Sprankle mementos – sports programs, ticket stubs, clippings
3. Scrapbook 13: Photographs taken by or of LeRoy Sprankle. Include Sprankle coaching career and Sprankle family (wife). Photos of Camp Hammond

Series III, Photographs and Audio Recordings, c.1920-1985 and undated, Folder 1 and box 6 and 7.
Folder 1
1. Photographs and Scrapbook Pages

Box 6
1. 1935 – Football Team
2. 1934 – Basketball Team with LeRoy Sprankle
3. undated – Basketball Team with LeRoy Sprankle
4. 1925 – “K” Club
5. 1959 – Letter from LeRoy Sprankle to Helen Duncan
6. undated – LeRoy Sprankle
7. undated – Bobby Peters
8. 1942 – LeRoy Sprankle, George Gaills, Milton DeVault, and William Mellons
9. 1934 – Wayne Bowers
10. undated – Fred Barger
11. undated – Robert Anderson
12. undated – spectators at a sporting event
13. 1922 – Girls Basketball Team
14. undated – Richard Bevington
15. undated – article: “Sprankle’s Coaching Genius Paid Off”
16. undated – Charlie Church
17. c.1931 – Kingsport Concert Band
18. undated – Raymond Jones
19. undated – five men
20. undated – Edd Guenther
21. 1963 – George Tipton
22. undated – Al Agett
23. undated – Pelie Jackson
24. undated – football player
25. 1939 – Bob Cifers
26. undated – LeRoy Sprankle
27. undated – “Junky” Williams
28. undated – Carl Rutherford
29. 1921 – Donald D. Williamson, Kingsport’s first football coach
30. c.1939 – four photos on the SS. Evangeline
31. undated – LeRoy Sprankle
32. c.1939 – four photos on the SS. Evangeline and Havana
33. undated – Kingsport Concert Band
34. 1957 Mayor DeVault, Poppy Day
35. undated – men in uniform
36. 1963 and undated – two photos
37. undated – men in uniform
38. 1933 – Kingsport “Indians”
39. undated – Bobby Peters
40. 1964 – three photos
41. undated – William “Willie” Gibson
42. 1923 – Blankenbecler, Lunn, and Poston; 1963 – two men shaking hands
43. undated – two photos, Devault and Henry Sims
44. 1941 – four students in uniform
45. undated – W. N. “Nick” Showalter
46. 1929 – Boys and Girls Basketball Teams
47. 1920 – Basketball Team
48. 1930 – Basketball Team
49. undated – class pictures
50. undated – group of boys
51. undated – William “Bill” Lehman
52. undated – four girls in uniform
53. 1941 – cheerleaders
54. undated – football player
55. undated – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
56. 1934 – Grant Alexander
57. undated – Albert Agett
58. undated – sports team with LeRoy Sprankle
59. 1931 – Basketball Team
60. undated – Camp Hammond
61. undated – Nat Reasor
62. 1925 – Basketball Team
63. c.1924 – Bill Snow
64. 1924 – Bobby Dodd
65. undated – Lee Meredith
66. c.1924 – Matt Lunn
67. 1936 – Basketball team with LeRoy Sprankle
68. 1936 – Ed Cifers
69. 1935 – “Junky” Williams and Claude Wright
70. 1936 – Bill Mellons
71. 1935 – Cecil “Shine” Williams
72. 1935 – Usif Haney
73. 1935 – three photos of athletes
74. 1934 – Fred Saylor
75. 1935 – Kingsport “Indians”
76. 1934 – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
77. 1940 – George Peters
78. undated – Whitaker
79. undated – coaches: Johnson, Elliot, Rhondange, Horvath, Freeman, and Sprankle
80. undated – Bobby Cifers
81. 1960 – John Robert Bell, Coach – Georgia Tech.
82. 1943 – Basketball team with LeRoy Sprankle
83. 1942 – Jim Watkins, Jack Crawford, “JR” Tranbarger, and Gurney Freeman
84. undated – Charlie McNeil
85. 1942 – baseball player
86. 1940 – Tommy Peters
87. 1940 – two photos from basketball Florida trip
88. undated – Carl Cole
89. undated – Raymond Jones
90. 1971 – LeRoy Sprankle
91. 1961 – train
92. 1946 – Tom Lee Murrell
93. undated – J. C. White and Carl Rutherford
94. 1963 – J. C. White
95. 1928 – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
96. undated – Paul “Big” Bellamy
97. undated – Guy B. Crawford
98. undated – Kingsport Concert Band
99. undated – football team
100. undated – football team
101. undated – man in uniform
102. 1925- basketball team with LeRoy Sprankle
103. undated – two photos of a baseball player
104. 1924 – negative of Bobby Dodd
105. undated – Lawrence Mitchell
106. 1928 – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
107. undated – baseball team with LeRoy Sprankle
108. 1925 – basketball team with LeRoy Sprankle
109. 1926 – basketball team with LeRoy Sprankle
110. 1921 – football team
111. 1922 – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
112. 1922 – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
113. 1938 – LeRoy Sprankle
114. 1921 – football team
115. undated – Usif Haney
116. 1924 – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
117. 1928 – football team with LeRoy Sprankle
118. undated – Dobyns-Bennett High School
119. undated – Ross N. Robinson Junior High School
120. undated – Thomas Jefferson School
121. undated – school
122. undated – football player
123. 1985 and undated – four photos of football games

Box 7
1. Negatives
2. Oversized Photos
3. Scrapbook Pages
4. Record albums of the dedication of the LeRoy Sprankle gymnasium at Dobyns-Bennett High School
5. Audio recording of LeRoy Sprankle’s memorial service