Gulf South Precast/Prestressed Concrete Association
H I S T O R Y

    The Gulf South Precast/Prestressed Concrete Association (GSPCA) has always been, in a very real sense, a product of the times. Its establishment was the culmination of a series of developments that could have had no other result than the creation of an association for the express purpose of ensuring the orderly development of a new construction material.

     It is generally conceded that the practical application of this new material, prestressed concrete, began in the early 1950's, even though the theory was developed much earlier. The GSPCA was officially incorporated in 1961.
     The first association formed was the Florida Prestressed Concrete Association and was spearheaded by Harry Edwards of LEAP Associates. It was from this group that the Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) was created. The first executive director of PCI was Col. Martin Korn.
     It was the constant urging from Col. Korn and Harry Edwards that convinced us that a regional association was the way to develop our industry and to expand the effectiveness of PCI. In the summer of 1961 phone calls were made to the producing prestressed plants in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and all agreed that we should form an association comprising the three-state area. Later the Florida Panhandle area was added to the GSPCA.
     There were two preliminary meetings held in Jackson, Mississippi, to discuss the formation of the association. The official organizational meeting was held November 8, 1961, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
     The year 1963 was a very busy and formative year in the life of GSPCA. Meetings were held and committees formed to work on different aspects and different interests of members. Another event that happened in 1963 was the instigating of the annual meeting involving the entire family. This first meeting was held in Pensacola, Florida, on June 21, 1963.
     It was, and still is, important that GSPCA maintain a very close working relationship with PCI. In this regard, most of our company members are also members of PCI and have played a very important role in the operation of PCI.
     Four GSPCA members have served as chairman of PCI: Charles Scott and Harry Harvey, both of Southern Prestressed Inc., Pensacola, Florida, J.T. Bain, Louisiana Concrete Products, Baton Rouge, LA, and Q.D. Spruill, Gulf Coast Pre-Stress Inc., Pass Christian, Mississippi. There have been several GSPCA members that have served on the board of directors of PCI, including: Rex Hartup, Walter Babich, Harold Naylor, Carrol Clark, Don Payne, George Southworth, Mott Pevey Jr., Jerry Sellers, John Bass, Q.D. Spruill, Michael Boykin and Jeff Woodruff.
     One of the ways in which we have promoted prestressed concrete as an association is in the use of seminars. We have sponsored PCI Handbook and Parking Deck programs.
     Members of GSPCA also give individual lectures at the various engineering schools in our association coverage area, and, PCI Handbooks are given to the engineering libraries, as well as to many of the students.
     GSPCA still has the same goals and aspirations as it did in 1961. It has been a part of the growing up of an industry that has taken its rightful place in the construction industry and GSPCA is proud of the part it has played. For more information contact us at gspcainfo@yahoo.com.
                          We are proud to have celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2011