spain was born in north lewisburg, ohio, on november 29, 1927. he spent most of his youth in tupelo. even early in his life, spain took great fascination with the way electronics worked. while still a high school student, he helped build and operate a local am radio station, welo. spain also served as the chief engineer on a part-time basis. after graduating with honors from mississippi state university at the age of 19, spain took his electrical engineering degree and ventured to washington, d.c.