is pam sutton still alive is pam sutton still alive

My deputies wouldnt bother him, Moore, a clean-cut retiree in a pink polo shirt, tells me. He made his home in Cocke County, where cockfighting and moonshining are legend. What did his Mom put in the moonshine to make medicine, that Popcorn got addicted to? His mind would just not accept it. The revised version of the book includes details of his death. Following this, he featured in another of Neal's documentaries, titled 'This Is the Last Dam Run of Likker I'll Ever Make,' which was a cult classic of the time and eventually caught the attention of many TV producers in Boston and New York. He had a wood burning stove inside. He had pleaded guilty last April. He honed the perfection of the craft, much like his father and grandfather had before him. Could it still be set up, as a shrine monument?? Sutton was arrested by an undercover police officer in 2008 after he admitted to storing large amounts of illegal alcohol in another location. What To Know About the Shows Creatures, Is the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Worth It? Bills organizing of the Moonshiners Reunion and Mountain Music Festival will continue, and he will perform at R.J. Rockers Brewery in honor of his music and life. His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides. Joe and Pam were not present for Kobe's final NBA game, nor were they in attendance for his jersey retirement ceremony in 2017. by Loyola Martinez | Dec 28, 2022 | Popcorn. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. i too would have enjoyed meeting old popcorn,he was and will always be the man the myth the legend that is popcorn marvin sutton, Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. Pam St. Clement was born on May 21, 1942 and is 80 years old now. Editors Note: Many thanks to Sucker Punch Pictures for allowing us to use their incredible photos of Popcorn Sutton and his still for this article. He later paid him back with liquor. Popcorn may no longer be around to weigh in, but his final words appear by his new resting place near his cabin in the woods. However, Popcorn's estranged daughter Sky Sutton believed her father died by his terms. [2][10][11] The New York Times later called it "a rambling, obscene, and often hilarious account of his life in the trade". A few hours earlier she had buried Sutton, 62, in a private ceremony in the mountains around Haywood County, N.C., where he grew up. After he attacked a popcorn vending machine with a pool cue in the 1960s or 1970s, he was dubbed Popcorn by the media. All Rights Reserved. Probably because its still illegal to make shine. (February 10, 1944 - December 22, 2010) We were fortunate to have a woman at Lions Dragstrip who was so dedicated that she wanted to preserve the performance of every car that raced down the strip. Made a still for a museumJohn Rice Irwin, founder of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn., recalled that Sutton made a still for the museum in the 1990s. Spring 2023 enrollment at Western Carolina Univers Waynesville is Haywood Countys only municipal g Jake Tallent vividly remembers the impact that the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority received a v Book reading, film screening to commemorate Popcorn Sutton, As long as water runs downhill: The story of Popcorn Sutton, Hillbilly Jammers get high on the mountain, Pardon me? If he liked you he liked you, and if he didnt, you better stay away, recalled Carver. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. moonshine was legal in the United States for the first time in a year shortly before Popcorn Sutton died of cancer. Hi my Name is Angel. He said a Vending machine in a bar took his money and didnt give him his popcorn! Even though technically he wasn't a member of "Moonshiners," his life and work inspired the series, which later kept his memory alive throughout its run. He was well-known in the entertainment industry for his stage name and custom copper stills, and he made a name for himself. [33] Dubbed "Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey", it was marketed as having been produced on stills designed by Sutton using his secret family recipe and techniques Sutton entrusted to former Supercross professional Jamey Grosser of J&M Concepts. Popcorn had just one question for the stranger. There arent any more not in his form or fashion, thats for sure., Julia Merchant contributed to this article. [41], In December 2016, the Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the Sazerac Company. Neal Hutcheson, another filmmaker who worked with Sutton, is worth $30 million. The federal govt. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Throughout his life, Sutton proudly held on to his Scotch-Irish American ethnicity and boasted about the fact that he had moonshining in his blood. He seemed kind and good, not perfect but who is? He said Nobody else could be that handsome We both laughed and he proceeded to tell me how he got his Name. To collect Popcorns original bottles, you can purchase them from eBay. A moonshine is a spirit created by fermenting cane juice. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. Glass and Silversmithing Arts. Marvin was a kind of cultural icon and an embodiment of moonshine yore when it comes to producing the liquor. And Popcorn, who refused to pay taxes and considered moonshine part of his dont tread on me heritage, wore his rebel badge with pride. His money was running out, and many of his friends, he lamented, had stopped coming around. Marvin Suttons legend began when he beat up the snack machine with a pool cue. Pam Sutton. Although he passed away a few years before the show premiered, the series used previous documentary footage shot by director Neal Hutcheson for his own films, allowing fans to see the legendary moonshiner in his natural habitat. It will cost you between $30 and $40 in supplies, as well as time spent cooking and fermenting the corn. Read on for all the details about her life now. It was done so the state could finally cash in (in addition to tax payments, starting a moonshine operation requires a half-million-dollar tax bond). These recipes were made with popcorn Sutton left behind, and they included a lot of instructions and instructions on how to make them. I bought a couple items and he talked to me. He considered moonshining his birth rite. He often bragged that he ran more whiskey than Jack Daniel. He detailed his brew-making exploits in the book Me and My Likker, and in a self-produced video The Last Run of Likker Ill Ever Make. Hes even been known to autograph Mason jars of moonshine. NFTs Simplified > Uncategorized > is pam sutton still alive. In 2017, Sutton's Parrottsville estate caught fire. Aint nobody make it better than this, she cackles over a sip. Pam St. Clement Birthday and Age. This led to yet another conviction on a number of charges. Told to report to prisonSutton's widow said he'd just gotten a letter to report Friday to a medium-security federal prison in south Georgia to begin an 18-month sentence for illegally producing distilled spirits and being a felon in possession of a gun. Whiskey is a great beverage to try if youre looking for something different. [37], In March 2015, it was announced that John Lunn, who had until then been master distiller of George Dickel Tennessee whiskey since 2005, would be joining Popcorn Sutton Distilling as its new master distiller. However, most believe it was either due to vandalism of the original site or a family dispute with his widow. Born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, [1] [2] he grew up, lived and died in the rural areas around Maggie Valley and nearby Cocke County, Tennessee. Following this, he was put on probation by Cocke County authorities. It is critical to follow his instructions and recipe in order to produce a moonshine that has the same flavor and characteristics as him. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. [36] The lawsuit said that the design "is likely to cause purchasers and prospective purchasers of the product to believe mistakenly that it is a new Tennessee white whiskey product in the Jack Daniel's line." From that moment on, the locals called him Popcorna reminder that this was one moonshiner you didnt want to cross. Pam said that a few days later, after coming home from running errands, she found her husband dead in his Ford. Popcorn Sutton married Pam Sutton in 2007 just two years prior to his death. His health was failing. She has shown her strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and she is a deserving recipient of the money her husband left behind. USA Distributor of MCM Equipment is pam sutton still alive Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. That's a big problem because now look where we're at. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. After Popcorn Suttons death in 2014, Pam was left with a large sum of money. He was a part of the 2002 Neal Hutcheson film Moon moonshine, which focused on the illegal moonshine trade. Sutton was in a live-in relationship with Ernestine Upchurch, who later helped him write his autobiography. However, he always received only probation sentences. He was 62 years old. Suttons exhumed body was transported via horse-drawn carriage to his property in Parrotsville, Tenn., where he remains today. Son, he asked, do you eat pussy? Sutton could have gotten as much as 15 years in prison, but got off with a surprisingly light relatively speaking with just 18 months. The sale included only the distillery, not the brands, which are owned by Popcorn Sutton Distilling LLC, which is based in Ohio. [35] According to press reports, Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey would be initially distributed in Tennessee and throughout the southeast. So he Wooped the hell out of it with a pool stick. His widow, Pam, told the outlet that he'd just received a letter to report to prison for an 18-month sentence for illegally distilling spirits, as well as felony possession of a firearm. Sutton was born Marvin Sutton, on October 5, 1946, in the tiny town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, to Bonnie and Vader. The company that sold Popcorn Sutton branded products, on the other hand, continues to sell them directly to consumers. If Suttons prison sentence seems light considering his many crimes, it was in part due to his age. We can conclude from this that moonshine culture is still thriving in the southern United States. This is the Last Dam Run of Likker Ill Ever Make, The Greenbrier Gatlinburg: The best and most haunted restaurant in town, Dign Zone construction theme park coming soon to Sevierville TN, Is Mountain Monsters Real? In 2012, Hillbilly Hero and Tom Wilson Jester teamed up to release a photographic book about Sutton, 'The Making and Marketing.' Popcorn Sutton, a moonshiner and bootlegger from 1946 to 2009, is regarded as an American legend. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. I couldnt understand what he said. The exact amount is unknown, but it is thought to be in the millions. Popcorn Sutton was a moonshiner who was born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. From back rooms to barrooms, locals tell me sordid tales of Popcorns violent temper. Hutchesons coffee table book style biography, The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton is a glimpse into Popcorns wit, jokes and hillbilly way of life. [3] In the 1960s or 1970s, Sutton was given the nickname of "Popcorn" after his frustrated attack on a bar's faulty popcorn vending machine with a pool cue. Marvin Popcorn Sutton, 62, was found dead of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in a car near his Parrotsville, Tenn., residence, days before he was to begin serving an 18-month prison sentence for large-scale moonshine operation. Through it all, there was just one thing that guided him: his likker (as he liked to spell it). The outlaw spirit soared during Prohibition, when demand for moonshine exploded and bootlegging familieslike NASCAR racer Junior Johnsons and the brothers in this falls Lawlessbecame revered. Birthday: May 21, 1942. To make a 5 gallon batch of moonshine, 201 pounds of corn must be used. He was handed down light charges at the time, netting nothing more than probation. moonshine was made from a recipe passed down through the generations and was sold in the back of his Ford Model A truck. Pass the Mountain Dew! So there my personal opinion. While some revile the folkloric status Popcorn has achieved, denouncing him as a common criminal, few can argue that Popcorn was a bridge to the past, a window on a vanishing part of Appalachian culture. Spouse. I remember the blood gushing everywhere, she says. However, since he was diagnosed with cancer, Sutton requested US District Judge Ronnie Greer to grant him house arrest instead of sending him to prison. With all his knowledge about shine and his love for animals, especially cats, that makes him number one in my book. I dont believe it or not, but the vast majority of it happened in the last few decades. The couple had been married for 25 years and had three children together. As industrious about marketing his booze as he was about making it, Popcorn spent decades traveling the South, stealthily pawning jars from the back of his vintage rides. He was convicted of moonshining and illegal firearm possession offenses and was scheduled to report to federal prison in March 2009, but he committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Crime, whiskey & homemade sex machines: The life, death and legacy of Popcorn Sutton, Americas greatest moonshiner. If the strangers seemed trustworthy, Popcorn would take their cash, about $40 per gallon at his peak, and tell them to pick up their moonshine from one of his secret drop boxes hidden in the woods: a baby casket or an old toilet. My favorite place of hanging out, how not the kitchen! But this wasnt Santa Clausit was the towns most notorious outlaw, Popcorn Sutton, and he was passing out his annual present: a shiny silver dollar for each cop on the force. Either way, months later, his wife Pam held a large public memorial service, which Hank Williams Jr. famously attended. Concepts LLC and Pam Sutton, the widow of Hank Williams, to create a line of whiskey named after her. Someone of means like Hank Williams Jr., an equity partner with Grosser and Pam Sutton in the Popcorn Sutton Tennessee White Whiskey distillery, which recently celebrated an opening with stars including Kid Rock, Zac Brown, and Travis Tritt. Is Popcorn Sutton still alive? Though Popcorn left no suicide note, his dramatic exit has transformed him into a martyr for his cause and solidified his legacy as the little guy whod rather die than let the Feds beat him. after being convicted of offenses related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. An incident report filed by the Cocke County Sheriffs Department says that Sutton was discovered dead in his 1982 Ford Fairmont when his wife, Pam Sutton, returned from running errands. His wife Pam, whom he had married about two years before his death,[11][14] returned home from running errands and discovered her husband in his green Ford Fairmont (which was still running) at the rear of their property in Parrottsville, Tennessee. If you want to find legendary moonshiners, you should look for Popcorn Sutton, also known as Marvin. RIP. It was composed by photographer Don Dudenbostel. Bill, who played guitar and harmonica on the show, died in early 2019 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Some people have questioned whether or not Pam Sutton is worthy of the money she has been left. "You might say he embodied a kind of Appalachian archetype, a character trait of fearlessness and fierce loyalty to regional identity even in the face of personal persecution and stereotyping," said Ted Olson, a regional writer and faculty member in East Tennessee State University's Department of Appalachian Studies. Whatever he earned from trading the barrels to Nick would go back into the next batch of products, and he would leave with little to spend on his household. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. As one legislator put it, The law is not making legal someone who wants to open a distillery in their barn. Pamela and Tommy had a whirlwind romance. Among his many documentaries was one that won an Emmy for its portrayal of his unique personality. He comes from the old era, said Maggie Valley Police Chief Scott Sutton, describing Popcorn Sutton as the last of his breed. He was convicted in 1974 of selling untaxed liquor[3][7] and in 1981 and 1985 on charges of possessing controlled substances and assault with a deadly weapon, but received only probation sentences until the 1985 arrest, after which he served time in the Craggy Correctional Center in Asheville. The suit asked that all current existing bottles be taken off the market and that all profits from the sales of those bottles be handed over to Jack Daniel's. Pam Sutton is a much loved and valued member with the Inner West Police Area Command. Released in 2008 and broadcast on 'CBS,' the documentary received a 'Southeast Emmy Award' in 2009. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/popcorn-sutton-46282.php. In 2009, he committed suicide to avoid going to jail, and because of his cancer diagnosis, he died. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. Fontes hadnt anticipated adding to Popcorns criminal record until April 24, 2007, when he spotted smoke billowing up from the woods. A scrawny teen with big ears and droopy eyes, he had just watched the machine eat his quarters without dispensing his popcorn, so he whacked it repeatedly with his pool stick and broke the dang thing. He also appeared in the Western 'Ghost Town: The Movie.' Helps Continue Popcorn Sutton's Moonshine Legacy", "Popcorn Sutton's whiskey goes legit with Hank Williams Jr.'s stamp of approval", "Hank Williams, Jr. Gets into the Moonshine Business", "Jack Daniel's in legal fight with small distiller", Dickel master distiller leaving to head Popcorn Sutton, "Sazerac Expanding into Tennessee Whiskey with Distillery Purchase", "Hank Tips a Hat and a Glass To Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey", "Another Dickel Distiller, Alisa Henley, Leaves for Popcorn Sutton", Obituary Of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, A Tennessee Moonshiner, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Popcorn_Sutton&oldid=1131948838, People from Maggie Valley, North Carolina, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Articles with dead external links from May 2013, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Sutton's long-estranged daughter Sky Sutton wrote a self-published book in 2009 entitled, Some of the prior Hutcheson documentary footage of Sutton was used in the 201112 season of the, A brief photographic book about Sutton was released in 2012 , Another Hutcheson documentary about Sutton was released in 2014 called, This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 15:01. And the skirmishes continue: After his daughter Regina fulfilled his lifelong wish by burying him next to his parents at the Bend of the River, Pam Sutton exhumed his remains and buried him back in her own front yard at an elaborate ceremony attended by many, including Hank Williams Jr. Over a jar of moonshine at Popcorns cabin, Pam tells me with tearful eyes that his grave site had been getting desecrated, and she wanted him close to home. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States has released a report ranking the top moonshine states. Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. These states are all part of the southern United States. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. Moreover, she is also not on social media which makes it further difficult to track down her life at present. Born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina,[1][2] he grew up, lived and died in the rural areas around Maggie Valley and nearby Cocke County, Tennessee. Aside from his white lightening, Popcorn was known for his crass language and feisty manner. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley. View the profiles of people named Pamela Sutton. "He was a true moonshiner," his widow added. Almost everyone who grew up in and around Cocke County, Tennessee is familiar with the legend of Popcorn Sutton. They should of left him alone he was part of our great history, 2021 The Smoky Mountain News. In 2007, a fire on Sutton's property in Parrottsville led to firefighters discovering 650 gallons of untaxed alcohol there, for which he was convicted and put on probation again by Cocke County authorities. That year, his conviction led to a sentence by federal authorities of 18 months in federal prison which leads us to our next Sutton factoid . They aint no damn body that can beat me making likker. And, in the end, he chose to die rather than get beat. As the story goes, Fergusons body was found on the side of the road, left for dead after having his throat slit. Read Also: Legend or lawbreaker: The real story of Popcorn Sutton. He always lived a death-before-dishonor kind of life." He wasn't just a poor old moonshiner trying to make a few dollars.". She underwent surgery and began her first round of chemotherapy. She even went so far as to testify on his behalf at his sentencing hearing. She told the Associated Press (per NBC): "He couldn't go to prison. "Popcorn is getting everybody drunk," the governor's Highway Patrol escorts complained and when Irwin told him to stop, Sutton packed up and left, Irwin recalled. Whiskey production became ingrained in early Appalachian culture, thanks in part to the regions perfect climate for growing sweet corn. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 50s Pamela L Sutton Brooklyn, NY (Central Brooklyn) View Full Report Addresses Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY E 9th St, Brooklyn, NY Even when he came to federal court, he was wearing bib overalls. Sutton's memorial grew in spectacle as country music singer Hank Williams Jr. flew in to pay his respects. His archive footages were featured in the 2016 docuseries 'Moonshiners.'. Later that day his wife came home from work to find him dead. A small memorial was also held for close friends and family. Showed how to make moonshineHe wrote a paperback called "Me and My Likker" and recorded videos on how to make moonshine. Did you know anything about Popcorn Sutton that we missed? His white lightning wasnt just potent and sweetit was illegal. Join Facebook to connect with Pam Sutton and others you may know. [7], Sutton died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on March 16, 2009, apparently to avoid a federal prison term due to begin a few days later. Sutton learned to make moonshine at an early age. In January 2009, Sutton was charged with illegal distillation of spirits and firearm possession. Then there was the alleged attack on Willie Ferguson, a local musician who reportedly made the mistake of crossing Popcorn. Assuming you have all of the necessary items and your climate is favorable for moonshine making, this is how much corn it will take to produce 5 gallons of liquor: 201 ounces of cracked corn 7 pounds of granulated sugar. In 2010, Hank Williams, Jr. announced a partnership with J.M. Filmed and released in 2002, the film quickly became a cult classic and over time drew the attention of television producers in Boston and New York. But the real question isnt what he did in 1983 its about the many bouts with the law throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 2000s. The charges also included tax evasion and transportation of an illegal substance. Is Pam Sutton Still Alive His body was carried to its new resting spot by horse and carriage. His recipe, on the other hand, still lives on and is produced at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Kentucky. For now, let's learn about Popcorn Sutton and his cause of death. Famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, whose incorrigible bootlegging ways were as out of step with modern times as his hillbilly beard and overalls, took his own life rather than go to prison for making white lightning, his widow says. He was a whole lot smarter than people gave him credit for. Grosser returned on March 16, 2009 to finalize the deal with Popcorn, who was scheduled to go to prison four days later. , Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, The Dangers Of Popcorn Lung: E-Cigarette Use Linked To Fatal Respiratory Illness, How To Prepare Your Airless Sprayer For Spraying Popcorn Ceilings, Adding Subtitles To A Movie On Popcorn Time, Popcorners: A Healthier Alternative To Traditional Snacks, Hoyts Offers Delicious Gluten-Free Popcorn For Movie-Goers With Dietary Restrictions, Sorghum Popcorn: A Delicious And Healthy Snack, The Shulmans Skinny Popcorn Is A Healthier Alternative To Traditional Popcorn, How Much Salt In Orville Redenbacker Popcorn. Clearly, the actress is still alive and well today, and she's been in remission for the . moonshine is still a popular drink in the region, and visitors can still taste it. 33 Years old foodie & cookie lover. Regina Sutton, his eldest daughter, recalls a time in her youth when her mom opened the cabin door to find a man with a butcher knife sticking out of his neck. View the web story version of this article here. Some Popcorn Sutton branded products can still be purchased directly from the original company. Here are six interesting facts about his life that might just surprise you. His thick shaggy beard and slight frame completed the prototypical image of a backwoods mountaineer. Jim Tom, his moonshine, was estimated to be worth more than $20 million. Suttons money has been used to fund the production of moonshine and to support the people who make it. Born In: Maggie Valley, North Carolina, United States, place of death: Parrottsville, Tennessee, United States, See the events in life of Popcorn Sutton in Chronological Order, (American Appalachian Moonshiner and Bootlegger), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tyS_HvhtyU&list=PLHk8dXrmYkn-hhIVi9dwmgJzD4v1sr35c&index=2, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13PsE_rQ74k, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohiSPSoG8tY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glQjCKAI4gA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfUDVqWMhWs&list=FL8CkDIqZ9eTNus6-gghDO_w&index=24.