by Laura Orr

Photos courtest of the Medlin family.

When you listen to the many old stories of Topsail Island told by its natives, there is a common thought that is shared:  “We have always had a comradery up and down the island that is special,” says Doug Medlin.  “With everything changing now, I miss that the most.  In the wintertime, we would all get together at some point and share stories of summer, fishing, romance, and always the neat things we experience because we live here.”

While it is true the island is changing rapidly, you can always stop by East Coast Sports and look for owner Doug Medlin, his wife Kathy, or any of his progeny and understand the comradeship Doug speaks of so fondly.

Doug Medlin, a Topsail Island native, moved to the island with his family when he was four years old.  Doug was born in tobacco country, Bailey, North Carolina.  His extended family farmed tobacco while his father also owned and operated a “country store” in Bailey.  Doug’s grandfather owned a tobacco warehouse in Wendell, North Carolina, so Doug spent summers working in tobacco until school started every year.

“In 1950, my dad visited Topsail Island and shortly thereafter, my grandfather bought a lot,” says Doug.  “My dad built the cottage for my grandfather and well, the rest is history. Dad liked it down here.  While Dad worked to build the cottage, he would have to travel to Jacksonville or Wilmington to get ice.”  It was through this experience that the Coastal Ice House was born.

Doug’s dad opened the Coastal Ice House in 1951.  His dad’s brother ran it until he could square away the store in Bailey and get the family moved to the island in 1952.    His dad would buy three and four hundred pound blocks of ice, take them to the ice house, and crush them with the ice crusher Doug still has today, and sell it to visitors, builders, fishermen, etc. 

“In 1956, Dad added a grocery store to the ice company (the first IGA on the island) and in 1959, he added a hardware store on the side.  In 1963, Dad had a chance to buy into Paradise Pier which he ran until 1966, when he bought Barnacle Bill’s Pier and Restaurant.  Barnacle Bill’s remained my family’s main livelihood until 1996 when hurricane Fran destroyed it. 

“I fought with the government for two years about rebuilding the pier.  Finally, after the first year, I decided to open a tackle shop in the old building we had.  I ran it for a year and in 1998 decided to invest to create what we have today— East Coast Sports.”      

So what did he do growing up?  Doug laughed and answered, “I worked.  I worked all the time.”  His dad would give him Sunday nights to date during the season and during the winter was the only time he could date on Saturday nights.  On Sundays the family went to church. 

“In the winter we had time to do other things on the beach.  We fished, clammed, oystered, went to the skating rink and putt-putt at the south end, and of course hung out at Pop’s Pavilion that was here in Surf City on the water,” says Doug.  “We had good clean fun!  There were only a few true locals here and we knew them all.  It was fun!”

Doug graduated from Topsail High School in 1966 and left the island to attend Atlantic Christian College in Wilson for a year.  “I just couldn’t stand being away from the beach.  I came home and lay out of school for one year and worked.” 

In 1968, Doug returned to college at UNCW in Wilmington, married Kathy Gandy of Sneads Ferry in 1969, and graduated with a degree in Marine Science in 1970.  Doug taught oceanography at New Hanover High School until 1974, and then he moved to Topsail and taught for one year at Topsail High School before deciding to work full time at the family business.  “I first leased the restaurant from the family until I took it over later.”

Doug and Kathy have three children, Chris, Matthew, and Alexis who have all grown up on Topsail. 

Doug has been a member of the Surf City town council for almost twenty-two years.  “I was mayor for one year and that was enough, but I like the council.”

If you spend a few minutes talking to Doug—and I hope you do—you will soon learn that his true love is this island, his family, and the pride of his life now .  .  . his new grandson.  He will tell you he wouldn’t trade growing up here for anything.  “I have great memories:  riding the ‘duck’ across the waterway to catch the school bus, sunrise services at the skating rink, fish fries underneath the swing bridge, Pop’s place, and most of all, the comradeship I grew to love on this island.”

BIO
LAURA ORR is a 14-year-old home-schooled student.  Born in Topsail Beach, she has a passion for the sea and enjoys surfing, skiing, swimming, riding horses, playing basketball, running, reading, and writing.