This is one of the internets most popular searches about Sutton. Pam Sutton sits down with Rick to discuss Popcorn Sutton The Rick Dollar Show 836 subscribers Subscribe 913 Share 124K views 7 years ago Pam Sutton discusses Popcorn Sutton and her. Pam Sutton was born in 1951 in the small town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina. ", Maggie Valley, NC Mark, Digger and JB are close to completing the first run of liquor anyones made here since Popcorn Sutton did his last run 20 years ago #Moonshiners on @Discovery and @discoveryplus https://t.co/mJGWJuEHZO pic.twitter.com/RohfOaMOKq. In 1985, he was convicted again for a felony assault with a weapon with intent, for which he received another three-year sentence. View Pam Sutton results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. He apparently got right back to work. Moonshining was legal in the United States for the first time a year after his death. Each piece is handmade in Pam's studio in Reno, Nevada. I can't be the only one that misses Popcorn Sutton.I would have loved to pick his brain. R.I.P Popcorn . Sutton, an infamous moonshiner, had been trying to outrun revenuers for more than three decades now. Fontes arrived to find Popcorn Sutton fanning the flames of a still, which had exploded from a gas leak. 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. Popcorn Suttons story is both tragic and a testament to the ravages of cancer that cancer can cause. Pamela M. Sutton-Wallace serves as Director of the Company. 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. 'Moonshiner' Josh Owens Is Seemingly Prone to Injury, Here's Exactly How the 'Moonshiners' Avoid Getting Arrested. Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. Thus, it took him forever to clear his debts. Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. A moonshine is a spirit created by fermenting cane juice. 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. by Loyola Martinez | Feb 25, 2023 | Popcorn. Popcorn Sutton poses with one of his moonshine stills (photo shared with permission from Sucker Punch Pictures). Her husbands whiskey was produced and sold by Hank Williams Jr. and she began selling it as a stand-alone product in 2010. 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. The exact amount is unknown, but it is thought to be in the millions. And Popcorn, who refused to pay taxes and considered moonshine part of his dont tread on me heritage, wore his rebel badge with pride. In this article we'll look back at her success and reveal what comes next for the hard-working Black actress. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States has released a report ranking the top moonshine states. He also appeared in the Western 'Ghost Town: The Movie.' Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Then there was the alleged attack on Willie Ferguson, a local musician who reportedly made the mistake of crossing Popcorn. Sutton followed her husband to coaching stops at College of Southern Idaho, Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and . 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. Popcorn was one of a kind, a man who told it like it was! says Williams. Son, he asked, do you eat pussy? Newport Plain Talk, Cocke Countys local newspaper, originally reported the following arrests and convictions. See top. He was 62 years old. While Popcorn was under house arrest, motocross star Jamey Grosser showed up unannounced at the cabin one day. Later he and Sutton even built stills together, and during my visit Moore shows me one of many he recently made. Back then, he lived on Snowbird Mountain. Popcorn began making whiskey in his youth near what he called the Bend of the River, a leafy spot where, decades later, his empty grave would sit. "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. 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. I was wondering if it was the last time the still was going to ever be use, why did they take the time, and hard work to break it down? Pam creates handmade art glass and jewelry. The boy's mother's boyfriend has admitted to beating the child and is expected to face additional charges Marvin Suttons legend began when he beat up the snack machine with a pool cue. I enjoyed watching his video it was entertaining to watch this man a Legend from the past a way of life how he fed and took care of his family. As only a legend would be, Popcorn Sutton was actually buried twice. The couple had been married for 25 years and had three children together. They dated for a month before getting married. Is Pam Sutton Still Alive Whiskey is a great beverage to try if youre looking for something different. As Hank Williams Jr. says of Popcorn, This guy was real Appalachian Americana. He will continue to teach distilling techniques to distillers in North Carolina, as well as his music, which will be featured at both the moonshiners reunion and the Mountain Music Festival. 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. Sutton Popcorn Company retains the right to use the name in some capacity. 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. Word soon spread that Popcorn and another man cut him after a fight and took his fiddle. Months before his conviction, Sutton reportedly had a mental breakdown after being diagnosed with cancer. He considered moonshining his birth rite. Sutton earned massive fame as a liquor king by the time he turned 60. He was handed down light charges at the time, netting nothing more than probation. Popcorn has never been secretive about his tendency for making moonshine. 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. Pamela and Tommy had a whirlwind romance. When the federal government tried to tax the stuff in the late 1700s, the mountainside distillers violently fought back in what became known as the Whiskey Rebellion. To elude the cops, he switched up the cars oftenit was a 46 Willis Jeep one trip, a 53 Ford convertible the next. The best way to make Popcorn Suttons recipe was discovered in a large quantity of instructions and tips. Facebook gives people the power to share. Sutton was arrested by an undercover police officer in 2008 after he admitted to storing large amounts of illegal alcohol in another location. The federal govt. Popcorns attire rarely varied: overalls, a flannel shirt and gray brimmed hat, occasionally adorned with a squirrel tail. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley. So he Wooped the hell out of it with a pool stick. She believes in elegance through simplicity, with designs that reflect harmony with nature and the occasional sly sense of humor. To distinguish himself from the competition, he took pride in quality. 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. He went to his grave in a pine casket he bought years ago and kept in a bedroom. Additionally, Sutton had had a mental breakdown after being diagnosed with cancer. . All rights reserved. 33 Years old foodie & cookie lover. His wife reported that he had once told her that he would do this, rather than go to jail. His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides. The company that sold Popcorn Sutton branded products, on the other hand, continues to sell them directly to consumers. [24] He had also prepared a footstone in advance for his gravesite, and for years he had kept it by his front porch and had kept his casket ready in his living room. "[3] His daughter said he had told her in advance that he would die by suicide rather than go to jail, adding that he had "the strength to die the way he lived: according to his own wishes and no one else's. In March 2008, Sutton informed an undercover federal officer about the moonshine gallons in Tennessee and Maggie Valley, which he wanted to trade. [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. Now 62 and fighting kidney failure, Popcorn faced 15 yearslikely his last onesbehind bars. However, Sutton continued producing liquor barrels, and the business eventually grew more prominent. In March 2009, Sutton, 62, died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Long hailed for her beauty and gutsy film roles, Grier is a Hollywood icon. 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. But even for this seasoned veteran of the force, Popcorn stood out. These recipes were made with popcorn Sutton left behind, and they included a lot of instructions and instructions on how to make them. Stanley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . 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. [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. 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. 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. 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. Popcorn Suttons real name is Marvin Sutton. After separating from his second wife Heather Locklear, Tommy met Pam and the two fell hard and fast. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months of federal imprisonment. He received the nickname of Popcorn after he attacked a faulty popcorn vending machine with a pool cue out of frustration. Lawlessness around here still persists, with poverty, crystal meth, and alcoholism rampant. IE 11 is not supported. As Sutton's business continued to flourish, he got involved in several legal issues, such as selling untaxed liquor, possessing controlled substances, and assaulting with a deadly weapon (between 1981 and 1985). At a time when moonshining and bootlegging were considered illicit in the United States, Sutton established his empire with just one barrel. 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. He made his first film appearance in 2002, with Neal Hutcheson's documentary 'Mountain Talk.' However, most believe it was either due to vandalism of the original site or a family dispute with his widow. He was a friendly fellow, and of course every time you would talk to him, he would say, "Ray, I've run my last run of moonshine, I'm not gonna do it anymore, I'm just getting too old to be doing this stuff.". 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. It was Popcorns daddy, Vader, who taught him how to make and run the moonshine as deftly as the Suttons before him. To Grosser it seemed less like a sellout than the last swift move of a sharp entrepreneur. She told the Associated Press (per NBC): "He couldn't go to prison. Popcorn Sutton's wife, Pam, died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. My deputies wouldnt bother him, Moore, a clean-cut retiree in a pink polo shirt, tells me. [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. Ever since the death of her former partner Jim, Pam gradually avoided appearance in the media. She hadn't seen him since she was 2, though they had talked on the phone. To make a 5 gallon batch of moonshine, 201 pounds of corn must be used. On March 16, 2009, Sutton, a resident of Northbridge, England, died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. View the profiles of people named Pamela Sutton. Kobe Bryant and his family (Getty) 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. One year later, while still on probation from the previous charge, an undercover agent working for the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission discovered 500 gallons of moonshine being housed and produced by Sutton. Local authorities allegedly looked the other way, chalking it up to Popcorn being a community fixture. JB, who was best known for his role as Shin Shinshiners in the reality show, died late last year from a long illness. What To Know About the Shows Creatures, Is the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Worth It? Whether people associate his name with criminal or star, no one can deny he's one of the only Cocke County, Tenn., residents to rise to fame. Jim Tom, his moonshine, was estimated to be worth more than $20 million. Whiskey consumption has grown over the last few years as people seek out new flavors and styles of moonshine. While his standard moonshine tasted like sweet, buttery corn, his infusionspears, peaches, figs, black cherriescemented his greatness. [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. He had got the footstone made in advance and had kept for years by his front porch. Here are six interesting facts about his life that might just surprise you. 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. P.O. As a popcorn treat, a pound of moonshine is served. But the young cop, whod seen the ravaging effects of drugs and alcohol on the locals, didnt comply. Some Popcorn Sutton branded products can still be purchased directly from the original company. Aside from his white lightening, Popcorn was known for his crass language and feisty manner. "It was beyond surreal," she said Wednesday. So its no surprise that the law eventually caught up with him. moonshine was made from a recipe passed down through the generations and was sold in the back of his Ford Model A truck. Pam Sutton is the wife of the late Marvin Popcorn Sutton, who was a legendary moonshiner from the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. He committed suicide in 2009 as a result of cancer treatment. Pam Sutton. An incident report filed by the Cocke County Sheriff's Department says that Sutton was discovered dead in his 1982 Ford Fairmont when his wife, Pam Sutton, returned from running errands. In 2007, 'The History Channel' featured Sutton's next documentary, 'Hillbilly: The Real Story.' 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). "He tried every way in the world to get them (federal authorities) to leave him on house arrest," she said. Popcorn Sutton, an American moonshiner and bootlegger, lived in the United States from 1946 to 2009. Previously, Pam was Chief Executive Officer at the University of Virginia Medical Center. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. His wife, Pam Sutton, whom he married just two years prior, had returned from running errands when she found him. I picked one up and realized the man sitting in the corner bye himself was the Legend ! 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. He appeared in the Western film Ghost Town: The Movie, in addition to his roles in the films Ghost Town: The Movie and Ghost Town: The Movie. His archive footage was featured in a 2016 documentary series, Moonshiners. She was one of six children born to a sharecropper and a housewife. 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 Suttons legal fight to legalize moonshine resulted in his suicide and subsequent criminal prosecution, but it was his legal fight to legalize the spirit that led to his death. Popcorn ran an antique shop in Maggie Valley as recently as a few years ago, where one could supposedly buy a jar of moonshine it they asked the right way. 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. I couldnt understand what he said. Morgan is the founder Morgan Media LLC, a graphic design agency and the co-founder of TheSmokies.com LLC a media company that specializes in regional travel sites. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. He would sell a gallon of alcohol for just 6 dollars. Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. On November 9, 2010, Hank Williams Jr. partnered with 'J&M Concepts LLC' and Pam Sutton to distill and distribute a whiskey brand titled 'Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey.'. And Fontes, despite angering some locals for busting Popcorn, eventually became sheriff, a post he maintains today. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? 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. "He was a true moonshiner," his widow added. Sutton's daughter later revealed that Sutton had once told her mother that he would prefer dying than going to jail. Jack Daniels claimed they copied the label and design of their product in violation of its intellectual property. 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. Grosser was just like any other fanboy whod come to meet the living legend and buy some hooch. His mind would just not accept it. They should have been focused on crimes that out weighed hi. He was a moonshine maker as well as Popcorn Sutton Moonshines creator, collaborating with his father. However, she and her father were not very close. He seemed interesting and came out with some funny one liners. 1929 wheat penny. He is buried in the. Popcorns remains are still buried in his side yard in Parrotsville, Tennessee, where his widow will ensure no one else tries to harm him in the future. The Feds killed him. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Don Sundquist, visiting for an annual homecoming event, Sutton decided to cook up some real sour mash and dispense it to the crowd in little paper cups. While unscrupulous moonshiners distilled their booze through antifreeze-caked radiator pipes (capable of killing a drinker), Popcorn used only new copper tubing. Irwin told Sutton to run nothing but water through it. According to filmmaker Neal Hutcheson, Sutton remains an intriguing figure. On March 16, 2009, Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. JB and South Mountain Distilling Co. began making moonshine in late 2018. His body was carried to its new resting spot by horse and carriage. [23], A conventional grave marker was used at the head of Sutton's grave, reading "Marvin Popcorn Sutton / Ex-Moonshiner / October 5, 1946 / March 16, 2009". The brand now uses a clear, round bottle with a smaller label. Moreover, there were several petitions made to reduce his sentence. It is impossible to overstate the importance of the life and persona of Marvin Popcorn Sutton, a legendary moonshiner and North Carolina native who died in an automobile accident. Sutton had a long career making moonshine and bootlegging. I dont care if he come in drunk or anything. But Moore kept their friendship on the DL so as not to anger the more conservative locals. The epitaph on his footstone reads "Popcorn Said Fuck You".[14][25]. Aint nobody make it better than this, she cackles over a sip. If you are going to produce moonshine, you must carefully follow his recipe and instructions. Click here to find personal data about Pamela Sutton including phone numbers, addresses, directorships, electoral roll information, related property prices and other useful information. Crime, whiskey & homemade sex machines: The life, death and legacy of Popcorn Sutton, Americas greatest moonshiner. The book also offers a better understanding of how the people of the region survived. [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. Over the course of his infamous career, Sutton faced a number of criminal complaints and convictions for moonshine-related crimes. [2] (A woman named Ernestine Upchurch, with whom Sutton had been living in the 1990s, later said she helped write the book. The sale included only the distillery, not the brands, which are owned by Popcorn Sutton Distilling LLC, which is based in Ohio. 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. Every time Sutton finished filling a barrel, he would give Nick a gallon and sell the rest to him. 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.

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