Orthopedic Surgeon and Former Rocket Scientist– Speight Grimes, BSHS Class of 1983

Dr. Speight Grimes attended both Park Hill and Marcy Elementary Schools before graduating from Big Spring High School in 1983. While a high school student, Speight lived on Osage Street. Today, he lives in Lubbock and practices medicine as an orthopedic surgeon.

Which Teacher had the greatest impact on your life and learning?

That one is hard. I think Jane Smith, High School English, taught me a lot about how to persevere to accomplish a goal and pay attention to what people are asking you to do. Mr. Lawrence, High School Chemistry, gave me a broad science education that gave me a background to excel in college science classes.

What can you share about those relationships that would be helpful to today’s students and teachers?

Jane Smith told me I should not be in her class. That made me determined to stay in her class. At first I did not do well, but she would explain exactly what she wanted. Slowly I learned how to write the way she wanted and did well in her class. I enjoyed my time with Mrs. Smith and today I write just like she taught me. It has worked well for technical writing. Mr. Lawrence was passionate about science and wanted to share it with the people around him. Tim Plew and I did every extra experiment he offered. He was generous with his time and willing to help make our endeavors productive. I spent a lot of afternoons in his laboratory and it helped me in classes from biology to biochemistry. He seemed pleased that we were engaged in his domain and we enjoyed the challenge of hands-on science.

Reflecting on your days as a Big Spring ISD student, what is one of your favorite memories?

On one of the road trips with the swim team just after we turned off the lights in the hotel room, someone made a joke. It was not a good joke, but someone giggled. Then we started laughing. I think we laughed for over an hour. The punch line was a mantra for us that year. It represented an infectious laugh between good friends for no reason except we