By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Spencer

George Spencer made quite an impression on 12-year-old Harold Howard the first time he met him.

"The only time I ever saw him he was hollering at us for making too much noise in the hallway," Howard said.

But, like so many others, Howard would learn that there was quite a bit more to Mr. Spencer than his sometimes gruff exterior would indicate.

Mr. Spencer, who died Sunday at age 62, was well known in Cincinnati basketball circles for his love of the game and for the help he provided to the young people who played it.

He was a forerunner in introducing the international game to America. Through his efforts, more than 100 international basketball teams have been hosted in the United States.

He also created, sponsored and coordinated college tournaments in Puerto Rico and Las Vegas through his World Wide Basketball Inc. and founded the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.

"George cared so much about basketball and the people who played basketball," said UC coach Bob Huggins. "He's had a tremendous impact on basketball in Cincinnati."

He certainly had a major impact on Howard, who first encountered Mr. Spencer at Millvale Community Center. Mr. Spencer, who worked for Cincinnati Recreation Commission for 35 years, became his friend and mentor.

"He was a straightforward, honest guy," Howard said. "I knew I could get an honest answer from him. He was just so likable once you got to know him, but getting to know him was hard. He was not a person who opened up."

Nor was he a person who sought the limelight.

"He stayed in the background," said NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who knew Mr. Spencer for 27 years. "That was his personality - he was low-key. He just never wanted the publicity. But he did a lot for the sport.

"He did a lot for the youth of the community, and it should be known."

Mr. Spencer was a standout player in his own right. He played on the UC freshman team in 1961 before transferring to Washington University in St. Louis.

In three years at Washington, he scored 987 points and shot 82 percent from the free throw line. He was drafted by the Houston Mavericks of the American Basketball Association.

While at CRC, he created citywide soccer and basketball programs in addition to running the Millvale and North Fairmount community centers.

He helped form the Cincinnati Comets professional soccer team and brought soccer legend Pele to Cincinnati for a skills clinic.

Mr. Spencer is survived by his wife, Sharynn Spencer, of Petersburg, Ky.; two sons, George C. Spencer III of Hamilton and Rhett Spencer of Mount Lookout; two daughters, Leslie Spencer and Suzanne Beniadrene, both of Forest Park; a stepdaughter, Jody Mangeot of Villa Hills, Ky.; a sister, Debra Spencer of Dayton, Ky.; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation is 1 to 8 p.m. today at Middendorf Funeral Home, 917 Main St., Covington. A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed for the building of an induction wall for the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame, 213 W. Ninth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com