The Wilmington morning star., 1946-06-11
DR.. James Sprunt

n As eAd!llple, WaShlngtop's
birthday should inspire reyiew q.
his leadership in ideals .ra
achievements in establishing tbt.
great country. The birthdata q,
Woodrow Wilson lends Itself ~
recollection of his great princinIes
for which he died, to establish .nS
perpetuate organization for world
peace.
1t is just as fitting that ".
should remember a man. who's
life in our community, was fnI1v
comparable in spiritual and mstc
rial betterment of not only his fol.
lowmen of his time but those foI,
lowing him in the many. manv
years to come. Therefore ".
write today of the late DR.. Jane,
Sprunt, who was born in GLASGOW
Scotland, June 9, 1886, and dis6
in Wilmington on July 8, 1924.
One of the nations most s,,.
cessful cotton merchants, at HON.
and abroad, he was known best IA
Wilmington as a beloved, Chris.
tan citizen and most generon,
philanthropist. Through outstsnd.
ing ability, sound industry and
sterling integrity he raised him.
self to a place in the community
from which his strong civic, ma.
triotic and religious influence,
have and will continue to be few
for generations. He was a leader in
the building of Greater WHINING.
ton after two mighty conflicts-tbe
War Between the States and World
War 1. Because of this, our civ
bases many of today's achieve.
ments and new goals on the toun.
dations he laid. But his good
works cannot be bound by vii,
mington's limits or the states
boundaries. During the u~ndisputed
reign of King Cotton, DR.. Sprunt
was a wise but modest prince in his
court. The great business he
established became worldwide
and in facilitating the marketing
Of cotton at home and abroad, he
helped millions throughout the
south to a better life. In doing 50,
his worldly goods became consid.
cradle but the manner in which he
shared them was as wise as the
way he accumulated them. Numer-
GUS church congregations, extend.
ing from Wilmington to the Far
East, received his material help.
Hospitals and civic organizations
also benefited from his assist,
ance and his active spirit Of beney.
olence was felt directly by
hundreds Of individuals in all
walks of life.
DR.. Sprunt's life history would
entertaingly and ~instructively fill
a volume.
1t is impossible to go into detail
here but two periods must be men
toned because of a timelinesS IN
comparison with today.
First, his start in business with
his father in 1866 after serving
the Confederacy aboard blockade
runners is a parallel with the bus,
ness beginning of many a compe
tent, industrious excl of 1916. The
story is a tragedy with a happy
ending. DR.. Sprunt had saved
enough money from his naval pay
to buy a small quantity Of sugar,
which he sold and invested in "a
bales of cotton, stored in Fayette'
vile for safety. But Sherman
and his men marched on the city
and IL bales were burned and sew
en- later stolen. With the remain
ing five, the great firm of Alex
ander Sprunt and Son opened for
business and eventually became
one of the oldest established com
panies of it's kind in the United
States, with branch offices al
numerous locations at home and
abroad.
There's a moral in that story
The overcoming of early adversely
really strengthens the right kInd
of man for achievement OF Ms
goal.
Second, DR.. sprunt was always
active in furthering the develop
ment of Wilmington. Realizing
the Importance of the port, he be-
came the father of the move
ment for a 30-foot channel" he
did not live to see it, but today we
have this depth of water IN me
Cape Fear with strong Likelihood
that it will be increased CONSIDER
ably in the not so distant future
His other maritime activities In,
Guided Craftsmanship of the boafa
of commissioners of naVl3atloa
and pilotage and president OF ts
Seamen's Friend society. That M
confidence in the port has been
substantiated should inspire otnels
seeking its advancement to new
heights in this, another postwar
era.
In the language of r OF Gs
many resolutions passed lmmea,
ately following his death, ne W."
first in citizenship, in intei!ecH
in material achievements, in lle.'
airy accomplishment, in conSIuu,
tive benevolences. He was unlqu'
and without a peer in this c0Hf
munity."
His useful and splendid nc
must not be forgotten as we I az
praise today's Wilmington me-
contributions, tangible and III
tangible, were too great not 10
remembered on the 1c0a ~
-. Ls,+h IN dn1nQ w.