James Gourley with his daughter, McKinna, before a diving expedition. Gourley and his wife Michele Durrill own and operate Gourley Contracting in Corpus Christi. When he’s not working, Gourley takes time to enjoy the Coastal Bend’s natural resources. Courtesy Photo
The list of projects on Gourley Contracting’s website provides proof positive this is a builder that can do anything. Contractor James Gourley has to his credit hike-and-bike trails, playgrounds, windmill farms, the Miradores that dot the downtown Corpus Christi seawall, Hurricane Alley and the Wind Dancer sculpture that welcomes students to the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus.
The list goes on to include plenty of quality residential and commercial projects as well. Gourley Contracting has built condominiums, apartment complexes, restaurants, homes and offices. The company remodels and repairs and does the dry wall, framing, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and more.
“We are a turnkey operation,” Gourley told Corpus Christi Business News. “We build to suit.”
The company, which is owned Gourley’s wife, Michele Durrill, daughter of the late philanthropist and businessman Dusty Durrill, boasts an impressive list of clients. Return customers include TAMU-CC, the Port of Corpus Christi, the Corpus Christi Housing Authority and the city of Corpus Christi.
The history of the company speaks for itself. Some of Gourley’s biggest commercial projects include Brewster Street Ice House, Concrete Street Amphitheater, Youth Odyssey Ropes Course, Dell Mar College, South Texas Aviator Memorial, Baffin Bay Wind Farm, Bluff Landing Marina and many more.
“We’ve done different things throughout the city and the Coastal Bend that we are proud to be part of,” he said.
Gourley calls himself an Army brat, having grown up around the world as his father was reassigned. The Gourley family moved to Corpus Christi in 1973 after visiting an Army buddy who retired here and falling in love with the area. Gourley has since become an avid diver.
“I had a commercial diving business for about 16 years before getting into the construction business,” he said.
He’s especially a fan of the abandoned oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico that attract marine life, creating artificial reefs teeming with fish.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “We had an oasis out there where we had clear water with fish from top to bottom. There’s still a few deep-water wells out there left, but there used to be hundreds.”
He did not agree with a government decision to remove the rigs from top to bottom, rather than just taking off the above-ground portions.
“It’s the end of an era,” he said. “I’m glad my kids got to experience it. There will be no more. A whole ecosystem has been eradicated from the Gulf of Mexico.”
After a precipitant drop in the diving business, Gourley began working with his father-in-law in the construction business, where he said he learned the value of investing in community.
“I’m optimistic about the future of Corpus Christi and the growth we are having and the sense of community that keeps growing,” he said.
He noted that local organizations will soon break ground on two community projects on which he has been working for a few years.
“One is a memorial monument for fallen aviators in Ropes Park,” he said. “(Another) is the ropes course for Youth Odyssey on Highway 37. We are so appreciative for the donations to allow this facility to be built.”
Gourley said community projects will always play an important role in his company’s business.
No matter the project, Gourley Contracting ensures quality work done on deadline and on budget, he said.
“Our focus now is on commercial — anything from metal buildings to tilt wall to strip centers, restaurants,” he continued. “Then, we also do residential kitchens and bathrooms. We are a full-service contractor.”
Gourley Contracting is located at 4921 Ambassador Row in Corpus Christi. You can call Gourley at (361) 883-3766 or visit gourleycontractorsllc.com.
