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==Artist and sculptor==

==Artist and sculptor==

When Speed began working on his art, he kept the matter confidential from all but his wife. His first sculpture was completed in an art class at BYU. It was at BYU that he met the cowboy artist and sculptor Earl Wesley Bascom (1906-1995). Bascom happened to also be taking a BYU art class and knew members of the Speed family when he was rodeoing in the Deep South.  Bascom critiqued Speed's first sculpture and gave him encouragement.​

When Speed began working on his art, he kept the matter confidential from all but his wife. His first sculpture was completed in an art class at BYU. It was at BYU that he met the cowboy artist and sculptor Earl Wesley Bascom (1906-1995). Bascom happened to also be taking a BYU art class and knew members of the Speed family when he was rodeoing in the Deep South.  Bascom critiqued Speed's first sculpture and gave him encouragement.​

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Speed also became associated with another local western artist, Hughes Curtis, who had set up one of Utah's first bronze casting operations in Springville where both sculptors cast their own creations. Later, Speed set up his own foundry in Lindon, Utah, with the help of his assistant, John Bascom, the son of Earl Bascom. John Bascom was an art student at BYU who had helped set up BYU's first bronze casting foundry and who was a master mold maker. Bascom was used as a model on horseback or in a saddle for some of Speed's sculptures.​

Speed also became associated with another local western artist, Hughes Curtis, who had set up one of Utah's first bronze casting operations in Springville where both sculptors cast their own creations. Later, Speed set up his own foundry in Lindon, Utah, with the help of his assistant, John Allen Bascom (born 1948), the son of Earl Bascom. John Bascom was an art student at BYU who had helped set up BYU's first bronze casting foundry and who was a master mold maker. Bascom, who resides in Sandy, Utah, was used as a model on horseback or in a saddle for some of Speed's sculptures.​

For eight years Speed continued teaching school but left that profession to devote full-time to his art. In 1965, Speed joined the professional art group, the Cowboy Artists of America, founded in 1965 in Sedona, [[Arizona]], serving as president and winning many of its awards.<ref name=speed/>​ Speed considered each of his bronze sculptures "an original, because in any edition none of the sculptures are exactly the same." His fellow artists recognized Speed not only for his art, but his character and faith. Despite his success in art, Speed comments that at times he still misses the cowboy ways of his youth.<ref name=speed/>​

For eight years Speed continued teaching school but left that profession to devote full-time to his art. In 1965, Speed joined the professional art group, the Cowboy Artists of America, founded in 1965 in Sedona, [[Arizona]], serving as president and winning many of its awards.<ref name=speed/>​ Speed considered each of his bronze sculptures "an original, because in any edition none of the sculptures are exactly the same." His fellow artists recognized Speed not only for his art, but his character and faith. Despite his success in art, Speed comments that at times he still misses the cowboy ways of his youth.<ref name=speed/>​