This Hutson Surfboard was shaped in the 60’s behind Hutson Hardware & Surf Shop in Pensacola. Look closely and you’ll see “shaped by Bob Cooper” hand written on the stringer, with a little hand drawn flower. Bob was “the guy!” back in the day – a great long boarder from California – one of the first to move full time to Australia. He was considered a free thinker, a beatnik, a guy who always went against the grain – dressing differently than everyone else, becoming a Mormon, etc.
Here’s Brian Waters story:
Bob flew to Ca. from Australia and bought a used, black, Packard Hearse for a US promo tour of his surfboard model – I believe it was a Morey-Pope board. Pensacola was the last stop on his tour, which meant he stopped by Hutson Surf Shop. While here he shaped a few boards, including the one pictured.
Brian said his parents took Bob out for a night at Rosie O’ Grady’s, a restaurant/bar where Seville Quarter is now located. His parents were conservative, hard working people – not wild at all. They had a few drinks. Well, the next morning Brian was quietly eating his cereal and overheard his parents talking –
“Jack, do you realize we bought Bob’s Packard Hearse last night for $300?”
“Louise, no kidding?”
After a few moments, “Jack, we don’t have $300”.
Brian was who was 13 or 14 slowly looked up and said “mom, I’ve got $300 in my savings account. I’ll pay for the hearse”. So, his mom drove him to the bank with his savings passbook. He withdrew the money from his account and gave it to his mom. Hutson Surf Shop then owned a black Packard Hearse. They painted their name on it and drove it around town for the next few years.