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

(1949-08-15)August 15, 1949
DiedJanuary 7, 1977(1977-01-07) (aged 27)
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendal)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
Known forSurfing
Parent(s)Kay Williams
Adolph Bernard Spreckels II
RelativesClark 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

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Spreckels 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

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Bunker inherited his family fortune on his 21st birthday.[1]

Death

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Bunker 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

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  1. ^ a b c Brewer, Art; Stecyk III, C.R. (2007). Bunker Spreckels Surfing's Divine Prince of Decadence.
  2. ^ a b George, Lynell (23 December 2007). "A Surfing God Rides Again". LA Times.
  3. ^ "Bunker Spreckels: Riding the Wave of Sex, Drugs, and Sugar". therake.com. 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  4. ^ Valley News
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