Quilla Downing “Q.D.” Spruill, Jr.
1929-2018
Long Beach, MS
Quilla Downing "Q.D." Spruill, Jr., Partner and Senior Chairman of Gulf Coast Pre-stress, Inc., and loving family man went to be with the Lord on December 23, 2018 at the age of 89 in Long Beach, MS where he was a resident for 48 years.
Mr. Spruill was born June 20, 1929 in Sharon, MS. He graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS with a B.S. in Business Administration. After high school, in 1947, Mr. Spruill joined the MS National Guard and continued his military service in the U.S. Force from 1950 to 1954. Mr. Spruill began his career as Sales Engineer with Highway Materials in Jackson, MS and in 1968 he joined L & A Contracting as their Purchasing Agent. In 1970, Mr. Spruill moved to the Gulf Coast as Vice President of Gulf Coast Pre-stress in Pass Christian. In 1990, Mr. Spruill along with a group of investors purchased Gulf Coast Pre-stress.
During his long and distinguished career, Mr. Spruill was involved in various professional organizations. He served as the Zone 6 Director, Secretary/Treasurer, Vice-President and Chairman of PCI (Pre-stress Concrete Institute). He served as Vice President and President of Gulf South Precast Concrete Association, as well as Highway and PCI liaison to that organization. He was a member of the Louisiana AGC, Mississippi AGC, MS Road Builders Association, Alabama Road Builders Association, DEEP Foundation, Pile Driver Contractor Association, Mississippi Manufacturers Association, and the MS Gulf Coast Manufacturers Association.
Mr. Spruill was active in the community. He was the Charter President of the Oak Forest Exchange Club and the Gulfport Exchange Club. He served as a Board Member and President of the Mississippi District Exchange Club. He held a three-year term on the Gulf Coast Chamber Board of Directors and two three-year terms on the Pass Christian Council of the Chamber. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Family Child Center in Gulfport. Mr. Spruill was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Long Beach and a member of the Ambassadors for Christ Sunday School Class.
His parents, Quilla and Gladys Spruill, his younger brother, John W. Spruill, and his first wife, Velma Claudine Spruill, preceded Mr. Spruill in death. Full obituary appeared in The Sun Herald
