The story of Prentiss “Tadd” Willcutt begins not with a title or a company, but with a nickname. At just two months old, his tendency to squirm off any surface earned him the moniker ‘Tadpole’ from his father. Young Prentiss embraced it, added an extra ‘d’ to “Tad” and for the rest of his life—through his time on the football field at Citronelle High School, his membership in MENSA, and his service in the Marine Corps, and a storied career on the Mobile waterfront—he has been known to all as ‘Tadd.’
That nickname is a fitting start for a man whose journey is defined by constant motion, deep roots, and an unwavering presence in the Port of Mobile. We had the privilege of sitting down with Tadd for lunch at Felix’s Fish Camp (fittingly, a Cooper family establishment with a menu item listed as “Tadd’s Red Beans & Rice), to discuss Tadd’s club membership which is believed to be the longest continuous membership in the history of the International Propeller Club, Port of Mobile—a membership he has proudly held since 1968.
A Path Forged on the Waterfront
After serving in the Marine Corps, Tadd returned home to Mobile, where his ties to the waterfront ran deep. His father was a boilermaker at Alabama Shipyard, providing a family connection to the industry. However, it was a military connection that opened the first door: his former Gunnery Sergeant was the Vice President at Mobile Towing. A job offer from his Sergeant quickly followed, and Tadd’s career was launched.
He witnessed the port’s resilience firsthand when Hurricane Frederick tore through Mobile in 1979, leading to the departure of his then-employer, Moran Towing. But as is common in this industry, adversity created opportunity. Crescent Towing opened in the Port of Mobile that same year, and Tadd was offered a job, beginning an incredible 46-year history with the company and the Cooper family that continues to this day.
“I’ve watched several of the Coopers grow up with the business,” Tadd shared, recalling that his very first intern was Britton Cooper and his last was Andrew Cooper. From meeting patriarch Mr. Ervin Cooper, then working with Angus and David Cooper to working with the current generation, Angus IV and Scott, Tadd has been a fixture through three generations of the family’s leadership.
A Pillar of the Propeller Club
For Tadd, joining the Propeller Club in 1968 was a simple matter of good business sense. As Membership Chair, his first board position, he saw a unique platform. “It was a good idea to have a platform to visit new businesses… and invite them to the Propeller Club while also building a connection with them for companies in The Cooper Group,” he explained.
His commitment deepened, leading him to helm the club as President for three consecutive years from 1982 to 1984. His tenure was marked by progress and prestige. In his first year, he appointed the club’s first-ever female board member, Dee Wilson—mother of current board member Tami Bell Dembski.
Under his leadership, the Propeller Club of Mobile earned the coveted “Propeller Club of the Year Award.” This national recognition was for the members’ incredible hands-on work refurbishing the Middle Bay Lighthouse. Tadd fondly remembers members taking their own boats out to the lighthouse for the scraping, painting, and heavy lifting needed to restore the landmark, a project that even earned the club national news coverage.
A Witness to History
To sit with Tadd is to open a history book on Mobile. He recalls the construction of the Wallace Tunnel and the awe of “riding one of the tubes down” as it was being sunk into place. He remembers President Richard Nixon visiting the Port of Mobile in 1971 when he came to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway Project and the surreal moment when Frog Men emerged from the bay, rerouting their boat. And he tells with a laugh the story of seeing the first drawings for the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge. “They asked me what I thought,” he grinned, “and I told them it looked like a drawing of Dolly Parton.” Follow the link to read the full story on “Who named the Dolly Parton Bridge” on AL.com.
When asked how the club itself has changed, Tadd says it’s become “more civilized.” He paints a vivid picture of the early days at the old International Trade Center: “The agenda was Happy Hour, a Speaker, another Happy Hour, followed by pulling out the dice table.” To keep things above board, the Sheriff would roll the first dice. It was a different era—and the membership was entirely male.
The Enduring Value of Community
Through all the changes, the core value of the club remains. Tadd credits his success and deep engagement with the maritime community directly to his participation.
“If you are doing business in the maritime community, there are not enough days in a month to cover all your customers on a personal level,” he advises. “The Propeller Club of Mobile meetings provide opportunities to socialize with every customer in the maritime community.”
He is quick to add one crucial element to that success: company support. “You get the most out of it when your company supports you,” he states, “and the Cooper Companies have always supported their staff’s involvement in the club.”
For over half a century, Tadd Willcutt has done more than just witness the history of the Port of Mobile; he has helped shape it. His legacy is one of service, connection, and the simple, brilliant idea that personal relationships are the very best way to do business.