— three qualities that don’t usually go together. Back when all of his brothers would get together, they would break out in song without
much encouragement. I have only heard Fats Waller’s “My Feet’s Too Big” about 10,000 times. He recites poems, vintage movie lyrics
and knows the name, rank and serial number of every person killed in any battle. He does not, however, have any clue about any pop culture
reference. He is wonderful to have on a Trivial Pursuit team; recently, he was the only one to know the name of the drink in the Li’l
Abner cartoon. If you are interested, it was Kickapoo Joy Juice.
His favorite motto is, “If you wait long enough, it will come floating down the river.” Anyone who knows him can attest to that.
A couple of years ago, my father decided to jot down a few of his stories. His anthology, “The Past … A Stairway to the Future,” is a
delightful assemblage of humorous anecdotes and historical reflections.
When printed, he distributed these books to everyone he knew and relished the feedback. After he had exhausted his long list of friends,
he eventually started leaving the books in random doctors’ offices, his physical therapist’s waiting room and probably the DMV. He
enjoyed the surge of attention and then as time went on, people stopped mentioning his book, until now.
My family and I hope you enjoy the musings of husband, father, grandfather, uncle and cousin, LGS. – Annie Gray Sprunt Johnston
1927
The year was important to me
for the following reasons:
1) Babe Ruth hit 60 home
runs.
2) Lindbergh flew the Atlantic alone.
3) Mother bought a few shares of IBM.
4) Mickey Mouse and I were born.
Item number three was the only important
happening in our family. By the time
that I learned that two plus two really
did equal four, the country was trying to
endure the worst Depression in history.
To me it seemed normal, as I knew no
other condition. Most people were suffering
to some extent. There was a constant
stream of people coming to our door
begging for food or money. The housewives
would call each other and report
how many people came to the door, with
estimates of how many were truly hungry
or just looking for cash with questionable
expenditures in mind.
My family had been quite prosperous
in the past, but the business started to
decline even before The Depression. The
Depression further hit our family business
and put a strain on my father, as it did
to nearly everyone, businesspeople and
36
WBM april 2012
Laurence and Annie Gray Sprunt, left.
Clockwise top from left, Laurence Gray
Sprunt and John Murchison after the
1988 Wrightsville Beach triathlon;
Laurence and Annie Gray Sprunt’s 50th
wedding anniversary celebration, with
sons, from left, Jimmy Sprunt, Laurence
Gray Sprunt, Peter Browne Ruffin, Sam
Sprunt and Kenneth Sprunt. At Orton
Plantation, Laurence Gray and Beth
Sprunt with grandchildren, from left,
Virginia, Louise and Margaret Sprunt,
and Annie Gray and Edward Holt;
and during the Historic Wilmington
Foundation Gala, from left David and
Wessie Sprunt, Laurence Gray and Beth
Sprunt, and Billy and Annie Gray Sprunt
Johnston.