Surfing icon honored on Pensacola Beach

PENSACOLA, Florida (WALA) - People gathered at Pensacola Beach to pay tribute to a Gulf Coast surfing legend on Sunday. Yancy Spencer III died from a heart attack Monday after spending the day surfing in California.

Spencer brought national recognition to the Gulf Coast in the surfing world. One man even called him the "Godfather of Gulf Coast Surfing".

"He had a real love for the Gulf Coast and he was really instrumental in getting people to surf," said a long time friend of Spencer.

Hundreds of friends and family paid tribute to the local legend by holding a traditional Hawaiian paddle out.

After a few words, the surfers hit the water with flowers in hand. Once they were out, they formed a circle and said a surfer's prayer. From land you could see the cheers and splashes as the surfers celebrated Spencer's life.

Spencer's brother J.B. Schulter said it was a humbling experience looking out and seeing the overwhelming love from the crowd.

"We knew just hundreds of faces and hundreds of memories from the people that were there, and all of them were snapshots of moments in our life with Yancy," said Schulter.

Those that knew Spencer said he was not only a natural surfer, he was the epitome of a good Christian.

"He gave me my first surfboard, took me on my first surf trip and gave me my first Bible," said a friend.

"He is truly a Christian hero, a mentor and a teacher to all of us," added another.

Although they were mourning the death of a loved one, the friends and family managed to wear a smile and enjoy Spencer's memory. His brother, John Spencer, said if Spencer was watching them from heaven, he would say they were crazy.

"He would have been saying, 'It's flat, guys,'" said Spencer.

The packed beach and love projecting from the crowd showed Spencer was truly a valued businessman, surfer, family man and friend.

At Spencer's funeral on Saturday, over a thousand people showed up from all over the country to pay their respects.