Spears taught music theory, music history, composition and percussion in both high schools and in universities. By 1999 he had worked 32 years in education before retirement. He is a professor emeritus of the Arkansas State University (ASU) in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
As a composer he wrote more than 300 works for concert band, choir, orchestra and ensembles. As a conductor he was a popular guest in the United States, Canada and Europe at festivals, youth camps and clinics. He received numerous awards and honors such as the Faricy Award for creative music from Northwestern University School of Music, the "Award of Merit" from the board of the Arkansas department of the National Federation of Music Clubs and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
Compositions
Works for orchestra
Dance Diabolique, for string orchestra
Hill Point Fantasy - Overture for Orchestra
Compositions for band
1969 Kimberly Overture
1970 Dramatic Episode
1970 Neologue
1971 Chatham Overture
1972 Third Set
1972 Prologue and Pageant, suite
1973 Chronolog
1974 A Wind River Portrait
1974 Meditation and Festiva
1974 Triolog
1976 Premiere Passacaglia
1976 Wilderness Overture
1977 Momentations
1978 Novelette
1979 Alleluias
1979 Forest Park Overture
1980 At a Dixieland Jazz Funeral (for Concert Band with Dixieland Jazz Combo)
1981 Cantique and Festival
1981 Day of the Shofar
1981 Ritual and Capriccio
1981 Scenario
1982 Canticles
1982 Crestview
1982 Thunder Mountain Overture
1983 Prayer and Proclamation
1984 New Century Overture
1985 Westward Trails - General Words and Music
1985 March of the Martian Chickens
1986 Axon
1986 Jubilations
1986 Lament and Caprice
1986 Praeludium - based on chorale "Praise ye the Lord", the Almighty
Legacy - Concerto, for three solo percussionists and band
March for Moderns
Northstar Overture
Novena
Of Honor, Joy and Celebration
Of Land and Sea
On Eagles' Wings
Ozark Folk Suite
Ritual and Celebration
Sansketch
Spirit Canyon March
Star Gazer
Star March
Stormy Point Overture
Suite Romantique
Sun Island Overture
The Brass Ring
The Dream Chasers
The Drums of Blackhawk
The Freedom Chronicles
The River Red
Wabash County Saga
Westwood Portrait
Where Legends Live
Wind River Overture
Chamber music
1997 A Kensington Portrait, for trombone quartet
Colossus, for trombone quartet
Divertimento for Tuba Ensemble
Invention
Melodrama
Dance
Chorale
Toccata
Stratford Point, for trombone quartet
Works for percussion
Allegro Fantastica, for percussion quartet
A Time For Jazz
Bayport Sketch
Caccia Caper
Cameo Suite
March For Mopeds
Dreamscape
Caper
Ceremonium
Collidescope
Collisions
Country Variations
Dynamo
Incantation And Festal Dance, for percussion octet
Malletrix
Mosaics
Proclamations
Ragtime Renegade
Run, for percussion sextet
Scamper
Spiritus!, for percussion quintet
Two Episodes
Two Frescos
Windstone Suite
Windstone
Drone Dance
Distant Songs & Incantations
Visions & Jubilations
Woodworks
Bibliography
Wolfgang Suppan, Armin Suppan: Das Neue Lexikon des Blasmusikwesens, 4. Auflage, Freiburg-Tiengen, Blasmusikverlag Schulz GmbH, 1994, ISBN3-923058-07-1
Paul E. Bierley, William H. Rehrig: The heritage encyclopedia of band music : composers and their music, Westerville, Ohio: Integrity Press, 1991, ISBN0-918048-08-7
Jean-Marie Londeix: Musique pour saxophone, volume II : répertoire général des oeuvres et des ouvrages d' enseignement pour le saxophone, Cherry Hill: Roncorp Publications, 1985.
E. Ruth Anderson: Contemporary American composers - A biographical dictionary, Second edition, Boston: G. K. Hall, 1982, 578 p., ISBN978-0-816-18223-7
James R. Pebworth: A directory of 132 Arkansas composers, Fayetteville, Arkansas: University Library, University of Arkansas, 1979, 89 p.