[38], In 2014, Popcorn Sutton Distilling opened a new distillery in Newport, Tennessee, the county seat of Cocke County. Each piece is handmade in Pam's studio in Reno, Nevada. In a move to perhaps cement his legendary status for all of eternity, Popcorn Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning just days before his federal prison term was scheduled to begin in 2009. Clearly, the actress is still alive and well today, and she's been in remission for the . Aside from his white lightening, Popcorn was known for his crass language and feisty manner. According to filmmaker Neal Hutcheson, Sutton remains an intriguing figure. Among his many documentaries was one that won an Emmy for its portrayal of his unique personality. [3] [4] [5] He wrote a self-published . [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. I picked one up and realized the man sitting in the corner bye himself was the Legend ! As part of his undercover investigation, an undercover federal officer discovered that Sutton had 500 gallons of moonshine in his possession. She has a Netflix doc, 'Pamela, A Love Story,' and book out now. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton killed himself in 2009 after being sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for selling nearly a thousand gallons of moonshine to an undercover agent. Sutton was in a live-in relationship with Ernestine Upchurch, who later helped him write his autobiography. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley. In the 90s he authored a ribald autobiography, Me and My Likker, which he sold on the Internet. Pamela Sutton - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages USA Distributor of MCM Equipment is pam sutton still alive Willie Nelson had him onstage at a local show, and Johnny Knoxville taped a visit to Popcorns cabin. Suttons money has been used to fund the production of moonshine and to support the people who make it. Popcorn told him he sold that much all the time and, after bragging about his whiskey and his guns, sent the man away with 80 gallons of his own. All Rights Reserved. Popcorn Sutton, an American moonshiner and bootlegger, lived in the United States from 1946 to 2009. Sutton was found at the age of 62 in his parked green Ford Fairmont with the engine running. It was said he did this to avoid the federal prison term that was supposed to start a few days later. Sutton began his moonshining and bootlegging empire with just one barrel, that too, at a time when they were considered illicit businesses in the US. The family descended from the wave of immigrants who brought their whiskey recipes to the area when they arrived in the 1700s. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. Sutton Popcorn Company retains the right to use the name in some capacity. One of Popcorns closest and oldest friends was the countys most legendary sheriff, Tooney Moore, who shared his conviction that moonshine was an important part of the local heritage. Haywood mans presidential pardon reveals systemic inequities, Town of Waynesville will pursue staggered terms for aldermen, SCC grad inspires latest New Century Scholars. After he attacked a popcorn vending machine with a pool cue in the 1960s or 1970s, he was dubbed Popcorn by the media. Now 62 and fighting kidney failure, Popcorn faced 15 yearslikely his last onesbehind bars. 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. 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. As Popcorn once bragged, Im the only man I know of around here thats got a two-inch dick and a six-inch tongue and knows how to use both of em.[pagebreak] Some view him as a folk hero. The brand now uses a clear, round bottle with a smaller label. By deadorkicking.com Editorial Team. Months before his conviction, Sutton reportedly had a mental breakdown after being diagnosed with cancer. In a final twist, she can now make her papas booze in Tennessee legally if she wantsthe state passed a law shortly after his death authorizing moonshine production. However, Sutton continued producing liquor barrels, and the business eventually grew more prominent. Moreover, there were several petitions made to reduce his sentence. Did you know anything about Popcorn Sutton that we missed? Showed how to make moonshineHe wrote a paperback called "Me and My Likker" and recorded videos on how to make moonshine. These recipes were made with popcorn Sutton left behind, and they included a lot of instructions and instructions on how to make them. he seemed to be a kind old soul. 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? Two of Suttons other documentaries, 'Popcorn Sutton: A Hell of a Life' and 'Squzz Corn N' Ole Scratch' (short), were released in 2014 and 2012, respectively, after his death. gotta love popcorns sarcastic wit. Pam Sutton: A Hard-Working Woman Who Deserves The Money Left Behind By When Popcorn Sutton was sentenced to jail in 2009 for moonshining, Pam stood by her husband. Yale New Haven Health names Pamela Sutton-Wallace as COO - YNHHS After Popcorn Suttons death in 2014, Pam was left with a large sum of money. He said a Vending machine in a bar took his money and didnt give him his popcorn! 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. 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. Here are six interesting facts about his life that might just surprise you. Where Is Jungle Pam Hardy Now? Untold Facts About Jim - CelebSuburb His first appearance in a feature film (that was not self-published) was in Neal Hutcheson's 2002 documentary, Mountain Talk, as one of various people of southern Appalachia featured in this film focused on the "mountain dialect" of the area. 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. But with thousands of people, including then-Gov. I met Popcorn in a restaurant in Maggie Valley around 1997. Facebook gives people the power to share. Interestingly, just a year after Sutton died, moonshining was legalized in the US. 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. [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. 'Moonshiner' Josh Owens Is Seemingly Prone to Injury, Here's Exactly How the 'Moonshiners' Avoid Getting Arrested. Popcorn Sutton Wife Death Son, he asked, do you eat pussy? Popcorn Sutton did this in his capacity as the leader of Popcorn Sutton Inc. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. He made his first film appearance in 2002, with Neal Hutcheson's documentary 'Mountain Talk.' Yes, I do, Grosser replied.Then come on in. They should have been focused on crimes that out weighed hi. Urban drinks are featured. JB, who was best known for his role as Shin Shinshiners in the reality show, died late last year from a long illness. So there my personal opinion. The fire tipped authorities off that Popcorn was still at it, and wasnt merely producing the occasionall jar here and there but cranking out hundreds of gallons. But Popcorn had fallen on hard times and ended up drinking and talking with Grosser for days. Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. He was just a skinny little farmer-looking guy who would come around and talk and cut up, he explains. While unscrupulous moonshiners distilled their booze through antifreeze-caked radiator pipes (capable of killing a drinker), Popcorn used only new copper tubing. In 2010, she began distilling and distributing Hank Williams Jr.s whiskey with him. [18] The judge noted that Sutton was still under probation in Tennessee at the time of the federal raid, and said that putting a man on probation again after being convicted five times of various crimes would not serve the community interest. Buyers came from miles around to sample his goods, and Popcorns celebrity grew. Back then, he lived on Snowbird Mountain. Stanley established The Starchild character for his Kiss persona. Popcorn Sutton was a moonshiner who was born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. 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. His health was failing. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Even when he came to federal court, he was wearing bib overalls. 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 . There arent any more not in his form or fashion, thats for sure., Julia Merchant contributed to this article. Local authorities allegedly looked the other way, chalking it up to Popcorn being a community fixture. [4] The source footage from the 2002 documentary was also re-worked into another Hutcheson documentary, The Last One, which was released in 2008 and was broadcast on PBS. Dean Sutton of 39 years and his wife, Christine Sutton; their son, Ian; mother, Bessie Wimer; and sister,Brenda Oswald, all of whom preceded her in death, are among those who have passed away. Damian Sutton, 2-year-old Mich. boy, dies after alleged beating from Sutton died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in March 2009, aged 62, rather than report to federal prison[according to whom?] I walked over and asked if he was the man on the Postcard. He'd gotten probation before, but U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer said he couldn't do that again, despite Sutton's age and physical infirmities. In a cabin Popcorn built in the woods, I swill from an old jar of his cinnamon and cider apple pie moonshine with Ernestine Upchurch, a bawdy older woman in white pants and a polka-dot shirt, who dated Popcorn prior to his marriage and describes herself as the love of his life. He had a wood burning stove inside. Crime, whiskey & homemade sex machines: The life, death and legacy of Popcorn Sutton, Americas greatest moonshiner. His wife reported that he had once told her that he would do this, rather than go to jail. Popcorn Sutton's wife, Pam, died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. 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. After meeting at a New Year's Eve party in 1994 . Pamela Sutton We found 100+ records for Pamela Sutton in NY, MI and 41 other states. [7] This led to a raid of his property by the ATF, led by Jim Cavanaugh of Waco siege infamy. Her family includes her husband Dean Sutton of 39 years, son Ian Sutton, daughter Bess Wimer, brother LaRue Breasette, Sister Brenda Oswald, and son Rick Oswald. He also had a coffin ready in his living room. The wife of Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton died Tuesday at a Tulsa hospital after suffering a stroke in December, according to officials at Ninde Brookside Chapel. His recipe, on the other hand, still lives on and is produced at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Kentucky. , 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. Popcorn Suttons wife, Pam, died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. In addition to serving probation after being caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine, he was also convicted of selling alcohol without a license. Patsy Sutton, wife of Eddie Sutton, dies at 74 | RSN Soon after Sutton's demise, there were rumors that suggested his grave had been vandalized. Copyright 2023 Distractify. When he was sentenced to federal prison for possession of illegal firearms and moonshining, he chose to commit suicide rather than report to prison, at the age of 62. The company and whiskey brand associated with him have been renamed after him since he died. He wore a long gray beard, faded overalls, checkered shirt and feathered fedora. moonshine was legal in the United States for the first time in a year shortly before Popcorn Sutton died of cancer. Sutton said he considered moonshine production a legitimate part of his heritage, as he was a Scots-Irish American and descended from a long line of moonshiners. Sutton was convicted of tax evasion after his property was damaged by fire in 2007. $50. Since his passing, his fame has only become more widespread with a new whiskey company that bears his name and numerous mentions on Discovery Channels popular show Moonshiners. Monday, April 25, 2022 New Haven, CT (April 25, 2022) - After an extensive search, Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) today announced that Pamela M. Sutton-Wallace, MPH, has been selected as its chief operating officer (COO), effective July 11, 2022. In March 2008, they raided his home and seized 800 gallons of the illegal liquor, three stills with 1,000-gallon capacities, hundreds of gallons of moonshine-making ingredients such as mash and many guns. Popcorn grew up in Maggie Valley and called it home for most of his life, but had largely taken up residence in his later years in Parrrotsville, Tenn., the rural and sparsely populated country around Newport. 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. 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. "He would tell you exactly what he thought, whether you wanted to hear it or not. I dont want moonshine to die with me, he told Grosser as they stood near the casket that Popcorn kept in his house for his final day. The grave of the last American outlaw sits off a dirt road in the backwoods of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, the hillbilly haven where Marvin Popcorn Sutton, the most notorious moonshiner ever, lived and died in the wildest of ways. There is no doubt that JB and Bill will be fondly remembered as two exceptional individuals. TULSA, Okla. (AP) Patsy Sutton, the matriarch of a family of college basketball coaches, has died in Oklahoma at age 74. After separating from his second wife Heather Locklear, Tommy met Pam and the two fell hard and fast. after being convicted of offenses related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. Then he cut on the engine and leaned back in his seat. [34] Country music stars attending the launch event included Martina McBride, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Zac Brown, Josh Thompson, Kentucky Headhunters, Little Big Town, Colt Ford, Montgomery Gentry, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, and Lee Brice. In 2017, Sutton's Parrottsville estate caught fire. 1. Pam Sutton. 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. Image Credit Birthday: October 5, 1946 ( Libra) Born In: Maggie Valley, North Carolina, United States 56 22 Writers #2968 Criminals #316 Quick Facts Also Known As: Marvin Sutton Died At Age: 62 Family: She was one of six children born to a sharecropper and a housewife. JB and South Mountain Distilling Co. began making moonshine in late 2018. The lawsuit was settled in 2014 with undisclosed terms,[37] and as of May 2016, the Sutton brand's bottle design has been substantially changed. Maggie Valley lost a friend and an ambassador, said James Carver, a long-time friend of Popcorns and a Maggie Valley native. But to those who knew him, he was something more: a brilliant self-promoter and chemist who ultimately despised the persona he had crafted as expertly as his booze. The lawsuit was settled in 2014. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. The couple had been married for over 50 years and had three children together. Pam was diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer in January 2014. But Popcorn, who seemed unusually sullen to Grosser, had other plans. The book also offers a better understanding of how the people of the region survived. His archive footages were featured in the 2016 docuseries 'Moonshiners.'. 1929 wheat penny. 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. View the profiles of people named Pam Sutton. But the young cop, whod seen the ravaging effects of drugs and alcohol on the locals, didnt comply. Pamela Sutton-Wallace Net Worth (2023) | wallmine 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. Neal used footages from 'Mountain Talk' in his next documentary, 'The Last One.' Originally, he was buried in an isolated plot in western North Carolina near the graves of his parents. Fontes arrived to find Popcorn Sutton fanning the flames of a still, which had exploded from a gas leak. [39] At the time of the announcement, it had not been decided whether the Popcorn Sutton brands would continue to be produced under contract by the distillery or not.[39]. Making moonshine is relatively simple and inexpensive if you have a pot that can hold at least 5 gallons of liquid and enough space to store the finished product. ", Popcorn's death remains a topic of discussion this year, as another supporter said, "Remember the Feds killed Popcorn Sutton just because he made his own whiskey on his own land. Pam Sutton - Lions Automobilia Foundation Sutton could have gotten as much as 15 years in prison, but got off with a surprisingly light relatively speaking with just 18 months. RIP. Spouse. But he was also the sweetest, kindest, most loving man I ever met in my life.". There were so many doctors just jotting shit down on a piece of paper making herion legal in a pill form and they already new this. Pam Sutton was born in 1951 in the small town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Sutton appeared in several documentaries including This is the Last Dam Run of Likker Ill Ever Make (featured below). Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. . He was placed on probation. Kobe Bryant's Parents: Where Are They Now? | Heavy.com My mother-in-law Pam Sutton suffered a massive stroke on 9/15/22. His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides. A long illness claimed the life of a beloved son on December 1, 2021. American moonshiner and bootlegger (19462009), "New Movie Focuses on WNC Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton", "Yesterday's Moonshiner, Today's Microdistiller", "Legendary Tennessee Moonshiner Plied His Trade to the End", "Widow: Moonshiner took his life to avoid prison", "Family of legendary moonshiner hoped his sentence would be reduced", "The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton | IndieBound.org", "Golden Moment: Bulletin: NC State University", "Cane In Hand, 'Popcorn' Sutton Is Sentenced To 18 Months", United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, "Waco 20 Years Later: The ATF Raid - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com", "Daughter says independence likely led to moonshiner's suicide", "Estranged daughter remembers 'Popcorn' Sutton", "Hundreds honor memory of legendary moonshiner", "6 surprising facts about Popcorn Sutton and his moonshine", "16th Annual Winners | National Indie Excellence Awards | California", "Hank Williams, Jr. Its easy to spot Popcorn Sutton, also known as Marvin, if youre looking for legendary moonshiners. This led the firefighters to discover 650 gallons of untaxed alcohol. One Christmas at the Cocke County police department, deputy Armando Fontes got a gift from a mysterious man with a long white beard. 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. (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. Angel Sutton is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Glen Sutton. Pam St. Clement Birthday. He received a five-year sentence. Beside his grave is a marker that reads, Popcorn said [f] you.. Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. Sutton, an infamous moonshiner, had been trying to outrun revenuers for more than three decades now. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. His body was carried to its new resting spot by horse and carriage. . The states with the most moonshiners, on the other hand, are not among the top five for per capita moonshine production. Some Popcorn Sutton branded products can still be purchased directly from the original company. He committed suicide in 2009 as a result of cancer treatment. Pam Sutton Profiles | Facebook Birthday: May 21, 1942. It will cost you between $30 and $40 in supplies, as well as time spent cooking and fermenting the corn. Lunn and Henley and the other employees of the distillery became employees of the Sazerac Company. In January 2009, Sutton was charged with illegal distillation of spirits and firearm possession. [8][16][17], In March 2008, Sutton told an undercover federal officer that he had 500 gallons of moonshine in Tennessee and another 400 gallons in Maggie Valley that he was ready to sell. In December 2016, Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the alcoholic beverage company 'Sazerac Company.'. 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 said Nobody else could be that handsome We both laughed and he proceeded to tell me how he got his Name. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. This led to yet another conviction on a number of charges. Sutton conceded he was part of a dying breed in an interview last year with actor Johnny Knoxville for a video posted on Knoxville's "Jackass" Web site. Moonshiner dead in apparent suicide - Smoky Mountain News We have found 168 people in the UK with the name Pamela Sutton. Read on for all the details about her life now. On October 24, 2009, his body was moved to his Parrottsville estate. [41], In December 2016, the Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the Sazerac Company. He was really just a back hill shiner. Inspired by the story, Grosser suggested they partner on a distillery and sell Popcorns moonshine legally. Dean Sutton of 39 years and his wife, Christine Sutton; their son, Ian; mother, Bessie Wimer; and sister,Brenda Oswald, all of whom preceded her in death, are among those who have passed away. The most notable thing about the grave? Pams early years were spent working on her familys tobacco farm. Aint nobody make it better than this, she cackles over a sip. This left Pam to raise their children largely on her own. It received a 2009 Southeast Emmy Award. While his standard moonshine tasted like sweet, buttery corn, his infusionspears, peaches, figs, black cherriescemented his greatness. Popcorn Suttons moonshine was renowned for its high quality, and he was known for his careful and traditional methods of production. "He tried every way in the world to get them (federal authorities) to leave him on house arrest," she said. In addition to being a wife and mother, Pam also worked as a waitress and a cook to help make ends meet. But so did the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who launched a full-scale investigation, including undercover agents that struck deals to buy large quantities of moonshine from him. The Last Hillbilly Hero - Maxim

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