Bunker Spreckels (born Adolph Bernard Spreckels III; August 15, 1949 – January 7, 1977) was an American surfer and an early pioneer of a surfboard design.
Bunker Spreckels | |
|---|---|
| Born | Adolph Bernard Spreckels III August 15, 1949 Los Angeles County, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 1977 (aged 27) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendal)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
| Known for | Surfing |
| Parent(s) | Kay Williams Adolph Bernard Spreckels II |
| Relatives | Clark Gable (stepfather) Claus Spreckels (great-grandfather) |
He was the great-grandson of German-born sugar baron Claus Spreckels and was heir to the Spreckels Sugar fortune.[1] Spreckels became the stepson of Clark Gable when his mother married the actor.[2]
Spreckels met surf photographer Art Brewer in 1969 at the surf spot known as Banzai Pipeline while Brewer was on a three-month photo shoot for Surfer magazine.[2]
Early life
editSpreckels was born in Los Angeles County, California. His mother was Kay Spreckels (née Kathleen Williams), a former fashion model and actress. His father was sugar-refining heir Adolph Bernard Spreckels, Jr. Clark Gable was his stepfather, and his great-grandfather was Claus Spreckels, who came to America from Germany as Claus von Spreckelson.[1]
Later years
editBunker inherited his family fortune on his 21st birthday.[1]
Death
editBunker died of a morphine overdose on January 7, 1977, at the age of 27.[3]
He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c Brewer, Art; Stecyk III, C.R. (2007). Bunker Spreckels Surfing's Divine Prince of Decadence.
- ^ a b George, Lynell (23 December 2007). "A Surfing God Rides Again". LA Times.
- ^ "Bunker Spreckels: Riding the Wave of Sex, Drugs, and Sugar". therake.com. 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
- ^ Valley News