HALL OF FAME MEMBER
Abner B Spears
September 10, 1948 to January 01, 2023
Accomplishments at Miller: Choir 64-67; Varsity Football 1966; Track 1967; Bible Club 1966-67
BIOGRAPHICAL TRIBUTE – ABNER B. SPEARS (Class of 1967)
Abner B. Spears was the eighth child born to Willie Mae and Cornelius Spears, Jr. on September 10, 1948, in Corpus Christi, Texas. His early years were spent alongside his siblings, helping with chores around the home and learning the values of family, responsibility, and perseverance.
His elementary education began in 1954 at the segregated Booker T. Washington Elementary School. In 1955, when the Corpus Christi Independent School District desegregated its public schools, Abner attended Charles Crossley Elementary School, Robert Driscoll Junior High School, and later Roy Miller High School, graduating with the Class of 1967.
Following graduation, he attended Del Mar Junior College from 1967 to 1969 while working part-time in a variety of jobs.
In August 1969, Abner was drafted into the United States Army. Trained as an infantryman, he served in the Republic of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War with the famed 25th Infantry Division (Airmobile) and the 1st Cavalry Division. For his honorable service and dedication to duty, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was honorably discharged in 1971.
After completing his military service, Abner returned home to Corpus Christi where he continued his education at Del Mar Junior College while working. In 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, and together they were blessed with two children.
While attending night classes at Del Mar, Abner accepted a federal civil service position as a clerk at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. He later transferred to the Corpus Christi Army Depot, where he began a long and distinguished career in aviation maintenance and management. In 1978, he earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Mid-Management from Del Mar College. He then attended Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management in 1980.
While working at the Corpus Christi Army Depot as a rotary-wing aircraft mechanic helper and later as an aircraft mechanic, Abner was selected for a prestigious three-year Maintenance Management Internship with the U.S. Army Materiel Command. Following completion of the program, he served in various managerial, analytical, and technical roles at the Army Depot. During the final fifteen years of his career, he served as a Supervisory Equipment Specialist.
After a combined total of 38 years of military and federal civil service, Abner Spears retired in 2013.
Abner loved his family deeply. Known as a kind-hearted and thoughtful man, he enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, siblings, and extended family. His interests included cooking, traveling, exercising, and conducting research on his computer.
He was a devoted member of St. John First Baptist Church. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Port City Lodge No. 581, where he served as treasurer. In addition, he was an active member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and the Corpus Christi Athletic Club.
Abner was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Mae and Cornelius Spears, Jr., and by his siblings Arthur Gene (Bobbie) Spears, Marjorie (Rufus) Spears O'Neal, Otis (Maria) Spears, Joyce Spears, and Carl (Bonnie) Spears.
SENIOR PICTURE OF ABNER IN 1967 YEARBOOK AND DURING TRACK PRACTICE, PASSING BATON TO WILLIE BROOKS
ABNER IN BLUE SUITE WITH WIFE IN CENTER ON RIGHT PICTURE AND SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS IN BOTH PHOTOS
PICTURE OF ABNER SPEARS AND HEADSTONE AT HIS GRAVESITE AT THE COSTAL BEND VETERANS CEMETARY
ABNER B. SPEARS FAB 60'S INDUCTION CERTIFICATE
