Ask any English teacher and they will tell you that according to literary tradition, legends are made, not born. While Wes Spencer’s legacy is absolutely unrivaled in Naperville athletics, this real life legend worked hard in real life ways to build a life, to lead by word and example, to teach young people how best to make their way in the world. His efforts and heart touched all who were fortunate enough to share in and learn from his life, then and now. Wes Spencer was an accomplished student and athlete, graduating from Dearborn High School in suburban Detroit in 1939, before enrolling at North Central College in Naperville, where he was a starting offensive tackle and defensive end for legendary coach Gordon Fisher’s Cardinals. It was under Fisher’s tutelage that young Wes Spencer made the decision to go into education and coaching, learning from Fisher and believing in the value of discipline, hard work, focus, and fairness. Spencer supplemented his experience on the gridiron with time spent in the shotput ring, all the while earning degrees in both Physical Education and Mathematics. Just out of college, Spencer enlisted in the Navy, serving at the height of World War II from 1943-1946, ultimately spending 18 months on a Destroyer in the Pacific. When he returned home to his wife, Mickey, Wes Spencer set out on a career in education that would make him one of the most influential figures in our school district’s history. Following two years as a teacher and coach at West Chicago High School, Spencer was hired at Naperville Community High School to teach math and coach both football and track. Starting as an assistant football coach, Spencer was mentored by fellow Hall of Fame Coach John “Joker” Harshbarger, helping Harshbarger to develop the 1948 Redskin team often referred to as “the greatest offensive machine in the history of Naperville football.” Under Spencer’s watchful eye, “Naperville’s Dream Backfield” featured three athletes who are already members of the Naperville Central Athletic Hall of Fame: Bob Parcells, who would play at Yale; Elry Falkenstein, whose resume included time with the University of Notre Dame, the Fighting Illini, and the Green Bay Packers; and Roger Dornburg, who captained the University of Wisconsin to a Rose Bowl victory. Wes Spencer was named Head Coach of the Naperville Community High School upon Harshbarger’s retirement in 1951; beginning with the 1952 season, he would roll up 99 total victories before stepping down after the 1969 season to follow his own sons’ collegiate careers. His eleven years of coaching in the Little Seven Conference netted three conference titles, including an undefeated conference season in 1962, a season in which Spencer shaped Hall of Fame quarterback Rich Erickson. He was an innovative coach and teacher on and off the practice field. Spencer once told his son Rick that he went into teaching and coaching because he wanted to make a difference in young people’s lives. He loved the game of football and the strategic aspects. Marrying his passion for both sports and mathematics, Spencer would have his general math class watch Friday game films on Monday morning, recording all the plays and stats from that game. It served a dual purpose: give him a statistical breakdown of the game, while providing real life math application for his students. Spencer was always a teacher first, telling the Chicago Tribune in a 1999 article, “Academics were always number one for me. Part of each player’s responsibility to the team was to get good grades and do the best for himself, his school, and his community. Having a player make National Honor Society was as big a thrill for me as winning a game.” He closely collaborated with Hall of Famers Dick Smith and Bud Berger. He worked directly with other influential figures like Ira Scott, Bob Grove, Cal Grosshuesch, and Athletic Directors Neil McCauley at Naperville North and Marty Bee at Naperville Central. His impact was immeasurable on Division 1 athletes like Erickson, Rick Sandborn, Rick Wright, Hall of Fame member Gary Winrow, Doug Mackie, and his own children: Kim, Mike, Rick, and Mindy. He served as President of the Naperville Teachers Association, was on the Boards of the YMCA, Young Life, Kiwanis, and the North Central College Alumni Association, in addition to being an active member of the Community United Methodist Church. When a new high school opened a mile away shortly after he resigned from the head job with the Redskins, Spencer went to work for McCauley at Naperville North, coaching freshman football until his retirement in 1984. In recognition for his dedication to the two high schools, the crosstown football game between Naperville Central and Naperville North was officially named “The Wes Spencer Crosstown Classic” on October 5, 2001. It was a collective effort overseen by McCauley and Bee, and came with the support of Principals Tom Paulsen (Central) and Ross Truemper (North). The game was relocated and has been played at North Central College every year since 2002. The incredible impact Wes had on the Naperville Community has truly made this game a showcase event for the Naperville community. McCauley remembers Spencer as “a kid person […] kids played hard for him because they liked him and respected him. Wes had been [an] inspiration for many of us who followed him in the education profession with the Naperville schools.” Bee adds, “He was a great educator, was good with the kids and very interested in their welfare. You could sense that he was deeply dedicated to his career in education.”For more than fifty years, Wes Spencer was a presence at Naperville Community and Naperville Central sporting events, wholeheartedly embracing the roles of coach, father, grandfather, and fan. Larger than life for all who loved him, this real life legend has a left a legacy that continues to inspire our athletic community today.