Photographer Lynn T. (Jug) Spence
This 1969 photo of Mike Shannon tagging out Bill Sudakis is arguably the most famous photo taken by any Post-Dispatch photographer. Everyone knows it as the “Out, Safe” photo. It has been reprinted hundreds, if not thousands of times. People are still ordering copies of it today. Judges and lawyers have it hanging on their walls. It is still mentioned occasionally on sports talk radio programs. But, photographer Jug Spence didn’t know what he had when he first clicked the shutter. It wasn’t until he was back in the darkroom going over negatives that he saw this iconic frame and realized what he had. For many years he had an enlargement of this photo covering an entire wall of his house.
Veteran Post-Dispatch photographer Lynn T. (Jug) Spence, 71, died yesterday after suffering a stroke and falling at his home. Jug retired eight years ago after working at the Post for 34 and 1/2 years.
Two weeks ago, Jug had joined a number of veteran photographers for breakfast in west county. We had come together to honor another photographer, our old friend, Reynold Ferguson. We had a wonderful time talking about the good ‘ol days, although our meeting was far too short.
Jug is in the middle in the floppy, yellow hat.
The other photographers are front row: Jerry Naunheim, Jim Rackwitz, Bob Holt, Reynold Ferguson and Bob Larouche. The back row is from left: J.B. Forbes, Odell Mitchell, Gary Bohn, Spence, Wayne Crosslin, Ted Dargan, AP photographer James Finley, Karen Elshout, Sam Leone and Larry Williams.
As we said our goodbyes that morning, Jug shook my hand and told me he planned to come out to my farm later this spring so that he could see the animals. Jug was a very kind, gentle soul. He loved animals. He loved to photograph flowers and children. He had a good, kind heart and a wonderful sense of humor. For years, Jug worked tirelessly in our St. Charles bureau. He probably photographed every tree and barn and horse in the county. He enjoyed his work and always wished that he could have done more. He will truly be missed.
To honor and remember our friend, a memorial service will be held this Sunday, March 8th at 2:30pm at the Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Road.
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Jug was never happier than when he worked in St. Charles.
It was a perfect fit for a man who loved nothing more than capturing the joys and beauty of Creation.
He worked day after day photographing children, flowers and animals and got paid for it!
I know that if Jug hadn’t injured his arm so badly in a fall, he would still be at it today – money or no money.
He was a kind and thoughtful man who treated everyone as gently as he treated the flowers and children he loved to photograph.
We will all miss his laughter, his funny hats, his endearing peculiarities and his loyal friendship.
And the readers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have lost a true advocate, one who gave them what they continually ask for – just a little bit of joy in the morning paper.
I was lucky to be one of Bug’s neighbors growing up in Webster Groves. Lynn ws truly a great friend and neighbor. His friendship got me into the picture taking business although be it video. Bug was a fair and balanced photog. He look for the people angles. I really wish the current trend of ambush photographing would disappear as did Bug. Bug has a whole world to photo now. Good Bye old friend.
When I worked with Jug in the city and St. Charles and I was lucky enough to share a car with him, some of the stories he told ranged from hillarious to heartwarming, about subjects in and out of the newsroom, on and off the job.
He truly was one of life’s character actors. Just his presence was something special.
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When my children were born Spence gave us a rocker for them till they got to big to be in it. His only requirement was that I photograph them in it of him. Thanks Spence for everything
Going in a car on an assignment with Jug, you took your life in your hands. His eyes were never on the road, but always on the landscape looking for a bird, a flower, a cow, a barn — something beautiful and humble to celebrate and share with readers. And when he found the thing he wanted to shoot, he’d just plunge ahead and follow his nose: swerving off the road, slamming on the brakes and parking until he got what he wanted in his lens. If you didn’t have whiplash by the time you got back to the office, you knew the trip really hadn’t been worthwhile.
His goofy, loveable black labs and their offspring were much beloved and fondly remembered.
Jug and I became friends in high school boarding school in 1953. His home was my surrogate home for many years. He was Best Man in my wedding. A brilliant man with a great sense of humor and a warm heart. We revived the friendship a few years ago beyond Christmas card stage, using emails and phone calls. I will really miss him.
I was lucky enough to have Jug for a Uncle and will always have fond memories of him ( and his hat ). He was probably the first creative, offbeat or otherwise “different” person I remember. He showed me that all grown ups weren’t necessarily adult ( a good thing ) and that there was always beauty to be found in the world if you looked for it.
One of the neatest things about Jug was that he always respected children and animals as individuals and treated them as peers. Thats probably how he was able to get such great pictures of them. He also had a great eye for nature and landscape. We always used to looked forward to his annual photo of the first crocus in our lawn as the harbinger of spring.
I have a small box of some of his 45s with a typed index card of contents . It’s a neat time capsule of his youth in Texas and the early days of Rock and Roll and a great touch stone of memories of him. It’s sad not to have him around anymore but I’m glad his troubles and pains are behind him now.
I never met the man, but to get a shot like that and not actually realize you have it until you’re back in the darkroom, says alot about the “eye” he had for photos and action. You might be able to work your entire life as a news or sports photog, but something that memorable is almost once in a lifetime. There’s a good group of photogs at the Post and they need to keep up the good work. Many people will know that a memorable picture is just being in the right place at the right time. God truly needed a good photog in heaven and Jug was and is his man. God Bless you Jug and your family.
There was magic for awhile in St. Charles in the late 80s and early 90s. it filled a rickety store front called the St. Charles Post. People laughed more than griped. Although of course they gripped but miraculously generally not much about each other. Some of us were funny, wittingly or unwittingly. Many were talented and bursting from bud to bloom. Many would and did donate hours to get the best story. The story was everything. So was having it first and more thoroughly than anybody else. Jug Spence was at the heart of it shuffling, shinning, taking great pictures offering a torrent of unreserved frendship. I thank him for being part of such a wonderous part of my life and hope heaven assigns him to a St. Charles Bureau free of physical ills. With love and indelible memories,
Theresa Tighe
I worked as a photographer for the Post-Dispatch for a short time in 1996-1997, and was immediately taken in by Jug. He was the sweetest and kindest person that I had ever met! He took me under his wing, and helped me figure out the complexities of the St. Louis community (I was a transplanted Texan–a little out of my element) But in short time, we were fast friends! I am happy to say that my life, while short in St. Louis, has been touched by Jug, and I am sad to have learned of his passing.