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. As only a legend would be, Popcorn Sutton was actually buried twice. Despite being on probation, Popcorn defiantly refused to give up his trade. However, in what has become a Sutton civil war, Regina and her supporters, including Popcorns former girlfriend Ernestine Upchurch, are fighting to get his remains back to his empty grave at the Bend of the River and reclaim his brand name. As a result, the judge had reason to show him leniency. The boy's mother's boyfriend has admitted to beating the child and is expected to face additional charges He made his first film appearance in 2002, with Neal Hutcheson's documentary 'Mountain Talk.' She added that the prison sentence and a cancer diagnosis might have had influenced his decision. after being convicted of offenses related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. These states are all part of the southern United States. With all his knowledge about shine and his love for animals, especially cats, that makes him number one in my book. Showed how to make moonshineHe wrote a paperback called "Me and My Likker" and recorded videos on how to make moonshine. 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. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. [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]. I couldnt understand what he said. On March 16, 2009, the 48-year-old Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. The family descended from the wave of immigrants who brought their whiskey recipes to the area when they arrived in the 1700s. [35] According to press reports, Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey would be initially distributed in Tennessee and throughout the southeast. He was quite a Character. 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. Others view him as a criminal. His money was running out, and many of his friends, he lamented, had stopped coming around. Damian Sutton, 2-year-old Mich. boy, dies after alleged beating from Pam said that a few days later, after coming home from running errands, she found her husband dead in his Ford. Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. How Did Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton From 'Moonshiners' Die - Distractify His gravesite footstone reads "Popcorn Said Fuck You.'' Popcorns attire rarely varied: overalls, a flannel shirt and gray brimmed hat, occasionally adorned with a squirrel tail. On Monday, she came home from running errands and found him dead in his old Ford. Popcorn Suttons story is both tragic and a testament to the ravages of cancer that cancer can cause. Almost everyone who grew up in and around Cocke County, Tennessee is familiar with the legend of Popcorn Sutton. 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. 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. Sutton earned massive fame as a liquor king by the time he turned 60. The best way to make Popcorn Suttons recipe was discovered in a large quantity of instructions and tips. Pam brings more than 25 years of healthcare industry experience and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Regional Chief Operating Officer of New York Presbyterian. is pam sutton still alive - Nftcollectionlab.com He wasn't just a poor old moonshiner trying to make a few dollars.". Sutton's memorial grew in spectacle as country music singer Hank Williams Jr. flew in to pay his respects. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. 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. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (October 5, 1946 March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. 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. $50. In 2009, Sutton's estranged daughter Sky published a book titled 'Daddy Moonshine: The Story of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton,' which gave a lot of details about her father's life. Jim Tom, his moonshine, was estimated to be worth more than $20 million. Whiskey production became ingrained in early Appalachian culture, thanks in part to the regions perfect climate for growing sweet corn. Filmed in one week in June, 2002, less than seven years before infamous moonshiner Marvin, People have been making moonshine almost since the day water started running downhill,, Attendees of this years Hillbilly Winter Jam kicked off the annual fest with a special, On a frosty Appalachian mountain morning in 1962, 22-year-old Waynesville man Charles. Sutton was convicted of tax evasion after his property was damaged by fire in 2007. Did Popcorn ever have a wife? Read on for all the details about her life now. I remember the blood gushing everywhere, she says. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, she and her father spoke on the phone occasionally. 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. Concepts LLC and Pam Sutton, the widow of Hank Williams, to create a line of whiskey named after her. Sutton Popcorn Company retains their original use of this name. In 2009, he committed suicide to avoid going to jail, and because of his cancer diagnosis, he died. The exact amount is unknown, but it is thought to be in the millions. He was a short, skinny fella, who always wore his hat that was kind of his claim to fame, his hat that he always wore. Pamela Sutton - People Directory - 192.com 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. But the young cop, whod seen the ravaging effects of drugs and alcohol on the locals, didnt comply. He went to his grave in a pine casket he bought years ago and kept in a bedroom. Someone of means is going to have to step up. 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 Sutton, an American moonshiner and bootlegger, lived in the United States from 1946 to 2009. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides. "He couldn't go to prison. Grosser was just like any other fanboy whod come to meet the living legend and buy some hooch. 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. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. Most of it happened in the last 20 years, if not longer. Popcorn had just one question for the stranger. Popcorn Sutton Whiskey, Once Moonshine, Is Now Legal - The New York Times Pamela Sutton's passing has been publicly announced by Good Sipler Funeral & Cremation Centre, Inc. in Reamstown, PA.Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Pamela in the Gue After her death, Suttons business continued to operate, and he continued to produce moonshine until his own death in 2009. Kobe Bryant's Parents: Where Are They Now? | Heavy.com [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. Where Is Jungle Pam Hardy Now? Untold Facts About Jim - CelebSuburb Does the TV show make real moonshine? It was Popcorns daddy, Vader, who taught him how to make and run the moonshine as deftly as the Suttons before him. Sutton was convicted multiple times for selling moonshine without a license. On the day of his death, a fan wrote on Twitter, "Toasting the passing of the famous moonshiner Popcorn Sutton. 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. They aint no damn body that can beat me making likker. And, in the end, he chose to die rather than get beat. 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. Patsy Sutton, wife of Eddie Sutton, dies at 74 | RSN Pam Sutton is a much loved and valued member with the Inner West Police Area Command. moonshine was legal in the United States for the first time in a year shortly before Popcorn Sutton died of cancer. When the sugar content of the spirit is too high, the sugar content of the spirit will be too sweet, while too little sugar will cause the spirit to ferment poorly. "The way she's breathing is just freaking me the f-k out, man" Josh said during the scary experience. He was handed down light charges at the time, netting nothing more than probation. 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. 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? Knoxville marveled at the wood-burned sign over the bedroom doorway inside that read this is a watch yourself fuck and eat pussy bedroom. Popcorns homemade cunnilingus contraption hangs in the doorway to this day, as I see when his widow, Pam Sutton, a heavyset, short-haired woman in a sleeveless brown shirt and jean shorts, gives me a tour of the cabin her husband built by hand. This charge would eventually cause him to fall. 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. 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. Sutton's daughter later revealed that Sutton had once told her mother that he would prefer dying than going to jail. My favorite place of hanging out, how not the kitchen! [41], In December 2016, the Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the Sazerac Company. An hour after Grosser left the cabin with his paperwork, Popcorn built his final contraption. Since his death, a new company, as well as an associated whiskey brand, has been launched in his memory. 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. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley. 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. Long hailed for her beauty and gutsy film roles, Grier is a Hollywood icon. Popcorn Sutton poses with one of his moonshine stills (photo shared with permission from Sucker Punch Pictures). The epitaph on his footstone reads "Popcorn Said Fuck You".[14][25]. Yale New Haven Health names Pamela Sutton-Wallace as COO - YNHHS The couple had been married for 25 years and had three children together. Where Is Tommy Lee Now? His Life After Pamela Anderson, Spouse In 1985, he was convicted again for a felony assault with a weapon with intent, for which he received another three-year sentence. She uses several glassmaking techniques to create decorative, as well as functional . Sky Sutton, Suttons daughter, is the daughter of Sky and Betty. 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. He said a Vending machine in a bar took his money and didnt give him his popcorn! While Sutton made his career out of this illegal trade, his rise to massive fame didnt happen until he was about 60 years old. Sutton died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in March 2009, aged 62, rather than report to federal prison[according to whom?] Popcorns nickname dates to a barroom brawl between himself and a popcorn machine. View the profiles of people named Pamela Sutton. Seussian contraptions of barrels and metal tubing, Popcorns stills could be set up and dismantled quickly at the riverside, just in case the cops screeched up. This Diner had postcards of him for sale next to the cash register . Would loved to have known Popcorn. As one legislator put it, The law is not making legal someone who wants to open a distillery in their barn. 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 company and whiskey brand associated with him have been renamed after him since he died. Popcorn Suttons real name is Marvin Sutton. He was convicted of moonshining and illegal firearms possession as a result of his moonshining conviction. 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. 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. The company that sold Popcorn Sutton branded products, on the other hand, continues to sell them directly to consumers. At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Popcorn Sutton - Wikipedia She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. A moonshine is a spirit created by fermenting cane juice. Glass and Silversmithing Arts. He is buried in the. He wore a long gray beard, faded overalls, checkered shirt and feathered fedora. 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: Following this, he was put on probation by Cocke County authorities. Read Also: Is Moonshiners real? What did his Mom put in the moonshine to make medicine, that Popcorn got addicted to? 1929 wheat penny. This led to yet another conviction on a number of charges. "[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. He seemed interesting and came out with some funny one liners. According to filmmaker Neal Hutcheson, Sutton remains an intriguing figure. Even though he is no longer alive, his legacy of moonshine production lives on. Now known as one of Britain's finest detectives and police officers, Sutton actually comes from a long line of coppers. 4 mos. What does this report reveal about the states with the most moonshiners? Stanley established The Starchild character for his Kiss persona. In addition to serving probation after being caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine, he was also convicted of selling alcohol without a license. "He did it his way. He had pleaded guilty last April. 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. Bell Mary. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. When I heard how Popcorn was treated and that he wanted me to be involved in carrying on his legacy, I was immediately in. "Those factors gave Marvin the strength to die the way he lived: according to his own wishes and no one else's," she stated. is pam sutton still alive - Hansmoeskraal.com [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. Unfortunately, Sutton was not making enough money back then. All rights reserved. The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Popcorn Sutton Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements We were deeply saddened to learn of JB Raders and Bill Owens deaths. If Suttons prison sentence seems light considering his many crimes, it was in part due to his age. Pam Sutton: A Hard-Working Woman Who Deserves The Money Left Behind By 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. Pam Grier is the undisputed queen of the 1970s Blaxploitation films. We dont plan to change that model. His thick shaggy beard and slight frame completed the prototypical image of a backwoods mountaineer. In January 2009, Sutton was charged with illegal distillation of spirits and firearm possession. Urban drinks are featured. The states with the most moonshiners, on the other hand, are not among the top five for per capita moonshine production. View the profiles of people named Pam Sutton. Then he cut on the engine and leaned back in his seat. Son, he asked, do you eat pussy? Though distilling moonshine is illegal, that doesn't stop the Discovery Channel from glorifying the concept in its docudrama series Moonshiners. How Old Is Pam St. Clement? 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. Popcorns stuff wasnt just cleanit was so tasty that locals treasure their last mason jars of it to this day. They had two daughters. The pulley consists of two ropes attached to a pair of Timberland boots, so that Pams legs could be more easily hoisted in the air. [38], In 2014, Popcorn Sutton Distilling opened a new distillery in Newport, Tennessee, the county seat of Cocke County. He came from a long line of moonshiners, so bootlegging and moonshining have been his calling since he arrived on Earth. Regina has plans to release her own moonshine based on her dads secret recipe with a local microdistillery near her home in Anchorage, where she now works as a trauma surgeon (a job that was inspired by the day she saw the guy at her daddys house with a knife in his neck). Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. . 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 Suttons wife, Pam, died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. This is one of the internets most popular searches about Sutton. If you want to find legendary moonshiners, you should look for Popcorn Sutton, also known as Marvin. Suttons will stated that the money was to be used to support the continuance of my lifes work. This work includes the production of moonshine, which is illegal in the United States. 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. Jack Daniels claimed they copied the label and design of their product in violation of its intellectual property. [8][9] In 1998 his roadside store in Maggie Valley, NC was searched by state agents, who seized a moonshine still and sixty gallons of moonshine, and Sutton was again placed on probation with a suspended sentence. 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.