DOUG'S SURFBOARDS

      DOUG PRUNS learned the surfboard trade by shaping surfboards for Johnny Viggiano in his senior year of High School in 1967 in Galveston, Texas.

      Doug then set up shop in his neighbor’s garage across the alley from his parent’s home near 33rd and “O”1/2 Street. He was entirely “hands-on” in building his DOUG SURFBOARDS from designing his decal logos and making laminated wooden skegs with clear halos, to shaping and fiber glassing each board.

      Doug opened DOUG’S SURF SHOP in 1969-70 at 5718 Stewart Road and continued making surfboards all through the current “short board revolution”. DOUG’S was a complete surf shop with boards and accessories and apparel surrounded by bamboo and palm frond interior décor. Doug set up surfboard rentals at 57th Street and Seawall Blvd. and started sponsoring a competition surf team (see photo).

      He taught many members to help make surfboards and wholesaled surfboards to another shop in Beaumont, Texas. He hired and trained his roommate, BOB MARTIN (see MARTIN SURBOARDS) to make boards as well. In the early 1970’s Doug’s added scuba diving gear and the store became DOUG’S DIVE AND SURF. DOUG sold the business in 1978 and continued working in the marine fiberglass trade as DOUG’S PRO CENTER. DOUG PRUNS has been married to PAULA PRUNS for 40 years and has retired from the I.L.A. Maritime Association.

      He has passed his skills on to both sons, Jason and Jeremy Pruns and Jeremy continues the trade while Jason is a sea and air navigator and helicopter pilot for Phi Air Medical at Ellington Field.

Contact DOUG at 4 Quintana Ct. Galveston, Texas 77554

409-744-2055