Lee Spann, Jr. Resident Assistant Scholarship Fund

Willis Lee Spann Jr. was born in February of 1953 into a naval family in Norfolk, Virginia, to W.L. Spann, a retired U.S. Navy captain, and Veronica Spann. He spent his youth on both coasts and lived in Coronado, California during middle school. Lee attended Mount Vernon High School in Virginia, where he lettered in track, basketball and was co-captain of the football team. He graduated high school in 1971 and accepted a scholarship to run track at the University of Maryland where he was an ACC champion and university record holder.

During his junior and senior years, Lee served as a Resident Assistant on the seventh floor of Ellicott Hall, which housed many of the student-athletes including the football team. He loved taking care of the student ­athletes on his floor and enjoyed helping them adjust to campus life as well as assisting them with academic, athletic, relationship, or personal matters. Thanks to Lee's genuine and caring personality, he formed several lifelong friendships during his years in College Park. Best of all, it was at the university where he met his wife, Carolyn.

After graduating from Maryland in 1975, Mr. Spann started his career as a salesman for Van Heusen shirts. He lived in Des Moines, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; Herndon, Virginia; Roswell, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and settled in Colleyville, Texas, where he ended his long career in men's apparel to buy the Kwik Kar auto center in nearby Coppell, Texas. Mr. Spann was a proud business owner for 12 years. He was also very involved in his children's lives as a coach and cheerleader. He passed away in July 2011 at the age of 58 after a short but brave battle with cancer.

Please complete the Spring 2025 Lee Spann, Jr. Memorial Resident Assistant Scholarship Application form to apply.

For questions or additional information please contact Donna Metz at 301.226.4830 or tkiras@umd.edu.