He seemed kind and good, not perfect but who is? Over the next few weeks, Sutton sold more than 100 additional gallons of moonshine each to two different men and showed another guy the barn where three working stills and 500 gallons of moonshine sat, ready to roll. But this shit right here goes right back to the crooked shit that's been going on before I was born. Fontes has just returned from raiding a local pot farm and is twirling a two-foot-long marijuana stalk in his hand like a billy club. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. [3] [4] [5] He wrote a self-published . As part of his undercover investigation, an undercover federal officer discovered that Sutton had 500 gallons of moonshine in his possession. The money has also been used to support the families of those who have been killed or incarcerated because of their involvement in the moonshine business. Aside from being gluten-free, the whiskey is also popular among those who have dietary restrictions. When I heard how Popcorn was treated and that he wanted me to be involved in carrying on his legacy, I was immediately in. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. They dated for a month before getting married. He was methodical about his brand and making a living, Grosser recalls. Sutton was in a live-in relationship with Ernestine Upchurch, who later helped him write his autobiography. 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. The most notable thing about the grave? Pam Sutton: A Hard-Working Woman Who Deserves The Money Left Behind By My mother-in-law Pam Sutton suffered a massive stroke on 9/15/22. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, she and her father spoke on the phone occasionally. The Feds killed him. Does the TV show make real moonshine? Pamela Sutton Obituary (1956 - 2021) - Legacy Remembers Jim Tom, his moonshine, was estimated to be worth more than $20 million. I walked over and asked if he was the man on the Postcard. Fundraiser for Glen Sutton by Angel Sutton : Pam Sutton Sutton nicknamed "Popcorn" for smashing up a 10-cent popcorn machine in a bar with a pool cue in his 20s looked like a living caricature of a mountain moonshiner. As one legislator put it, The law is not making legal someone who wants to open a distillery in their barn. Small batches of this alcohol are typically made and can contain 40 to 80 percent alcohol by volume. He went to his grave in a pine casket he bought years ago and kept in a bedroom. At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Aint nobody make it better than this, she cackles over a sip. [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. Famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, whose incorrigible bootlegging ways were out of step with modern times, took his own life rather than go to prison, his widow says. He ran a PVC pipe from the exhaust of his Ford Fairlane into his window and sealed it up with duct tape. [7] This led to a raid of his property by the ATF, led by Jim Cavanaugh of Waco siege infamy. He received a five-year sentence. Since his death, Popcorn's persona and work have only garnered more attention due to a whiskey company named after him, Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey, and as we said before, his posthumous appearances on Moonshiners. He had a wood burning stove inside. 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. He also had a coffin ready in his living room. 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. While his standard moonshine tasted like sweet, buttery corn, his infusionspears, peaches, figs, black cherriescemented his greatness. His wife, Pam Sutton, whom he married just two years prior, had returned from running errands when she found him. Concepts LLC and Pam Sutton, the widow of Hank Williams, to create a line of whiskey named after her. In this article we'll look back at her success and reveal what comes next for the hard-working Black actress. This time, the local cops would be of no help. 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. Autopsy results may be weeks away. Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. What did his Mom put in the moonshine to make medicine, that Popcorn got addicted to? According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the states with the most illegal stills are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. "And then he got into it in such a big way. [38], In 2014, Popcorn Sutton Distilling opened a new distillery in Newport, Tennessee, the county seat of Cocke County. 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. Glass and Silversmithing Arts. However, Popcorn's estranged daughter Sky Sutton believed her father died by his terms. Others view him as a criminal. he seemed to be a kind old soul. Yale New Haven Health names Pamela Sutton-Wallace as COO - YNHHS Popcorns wife used both original bottles and they are currently available for eBay purchase. 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. Some view him as a folk hero. However, he always received only probation sentences. So its no surprise that the law eventually caught up with him. In 2007, Sutton was caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine by local Cocke County authorities. Probably because its still illegal to make shine. In December 2016, Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the alcoholic beverage company 'Sazerac Company.'. Since his death, a new company and associated whiskey brand have been named after him. He apparently got right back to work. Popcorns stuff wasnt just cleanit was so tasty that locals treasure their last mason jars of it to this day. He comes from the old era, said Maggie Valley Police Chief Scott Sutton, describing Popcorn Sutton as the last of his breed. Hi my Name is Angel. Pam Sutton was born in 1951 in the small town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina. He was also known for being convicted of crimes related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. Popcorn Sutton's wife, Pam, died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. Why not just leave it up in a shrine like ritual for all to see?? The boy's mother's boyfriend has admitted to beating the child and is expected to face additional charges 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. In 2017, Sutton's Parrottsville estate caught fire. The Last Hillbilly Hero - Maxim Pam Sutton: The Wife Of A Moonshining Legend | Popcorn Carnival But how well do you really know the legend of Popcorn Sutton? after being convicted of offenses related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? My favorite place of hanging out, how not the kitchen! 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. 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: Hutchesons coffee table book style biography, The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton is a glimpse into Popcorns wit, jokes and hillbilly way of life. [3][4] Before his rise to fame at around 60 years of age, he had been in trouble with the law several times, but had avoided prison sentences. 4 mos. [2] (A woman named Ernestine Upchurch, with whom Sutton had been living in the 1990s, later said she helped write the book. 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. Sutton Popcorn Company retains their original use of this name. This is one of the internets most popular searches about Sutton. 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. Spouse. When she was just sixteen, Pam married Popcorn Sutton, a man eighteen years her senior. 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. But the young cop, whod seen the ravaging effects of drugs and alcohol on the locals, didnt comply. The exact amount is unknown, but it is thought to be in the millions. Pretty dam sad if you ask me. His health was failing. [37] In July 2016, it was announced Allisa Henley, long time employee and Master Distiller at George Dickel, would join John Lunn at Popcorn Sutton Distilling. [41], In December 2016, the Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the Sazerac Company. But he was also the sweetest, kindest, most loving man I ever met in my life.". In this article, we take a closer look at some of the most interesting monsters mentioned on Travel Channel's Mountain Monsters (media photo from Travel Channel, werewolf rendering from Adobe stock), The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is one of the main attractions in Bryson City, North Carolina (photo by Alaina O'Neal/TheSmokies.com), I would love to have drank some of his moonshine ll0, I wud love to have met Popcorn. I bought a couple items and he talked to me. The company and whiskey brand associated with him have been renamed after him since he died. His parents lived in a wooden house in a mountain perched beside a tumbling stream. I dont believe it or not, but the vast majority of it happened in the last few decades. Reports vary on why he was exhumed and reburied. Fermented corn mash is used to make moonshine. He was really just a back hill shiner. 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. The federal govt. Later that day his wife came home from work to find him dead. Popcorn Suttons wife, Pam, died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley. Popcorn Sutton Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements "Those factors gave Marvin the strength to die the way he lived: according to his own wishes and no one else's," she stated. Authorities began to investigate him without his consent. 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, 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. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. 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. 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. Popcorn lives on but now in a rural mountain in northern Tennessee. When Popcorn Sutton was sentenced to jail in 2009 for moonshining, Pam stood by her husband. 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. It received a 2009 Southeast Emmy Award. While unscrupulous moonshiners distilled their booze through antifreeze-caked radiator pipes (capable of killing a drinker), Popcorn used only new copper tubing. In addition to organizing the Mountain Music Festival and the Moonshiners Reunion, Bill plays the guitar and organizes gig events. His money was running out, and many of his friends, he lamented, had stopped coming around. 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. When he took it back home what happen to it?? Manhunt: What happened to Colin Sutton? Where is he now? He was just a skinny little farmer-looking guy who would come around and talk and cut up, he explains. At several points in my interviews, people would slip away and return with dusty jugs of Popcorns concoctions. Sutton was sentenced to 18 months in prison in January 2009 for tax evasion. Join Facebook to connect with Pam Sutton and others you may know. Children. He came from a long line of moonshiners, so bootlegging and moonshining have been his calling since he arrived on Earth. Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. Pamela Anderson is alive and well. We were deeply saddened to learn of JB Raders and Bill Owens deaths. Pam Grier is the undisputed queen of the 1970s Blaxploitation films. Thus, it took him forever to clear his debts. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (October 5, 1946 March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. Distractify is a registered trademark. The lawsuit was settled in 2014. [7] He said he had considered a harsher sentence of 24 months, but had decided on 18 months after considering Sutton's age and medical condition. Popcorn Suttons story is both tragic and a testament to the ravages of cancer that cancer can cause. He was handed down light charges at the time, netting nothing more than probation. Pam Sutton sits down with Rick to discuss Popcorn Sutton Copyright 2023 Distractify. View the profiles of people named Pam Sutton. Personally I think they should have left him alone and focus on what there real job is he didn't hurt nobody. [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. 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. [2023], Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? 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. 4 mos. She underwent surgery and began her first round of chemotherapy. Pams early years were spent working on her familys tobacco farm. 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. is pam sutton still alive - Hansmoeskraal.com She hadn't seen him since she was 2, though they had talked on the phone. The total weight of the ingredients is 143 pounds (65.2 kilograms), with cracked corn accounting for 65.1 kilograms and granulated sugar accounting for 76 kilograms. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. Pamela Sutton - People Directory - 192.com I picked one up and realized the man sitting in the corner bye himself was the Legend ! 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. Neal used footages from 'Mountain Talk' in his next documentary, 'The Last One.' However, most believe it was either due to vandalism of the original site or a family dispute with his widow. Lawlessness around here still persists, with poverty, crystal meth, and alcoholism rampant. , 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. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. Wud love to get me some of his mountain juice . This Diner had postcards of him for sale next to the cash register . Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. He was a moonshine maker as well as Popcorn Sutton Moonshines creator, collaborating with his father. On November 9, 2010, Hank Williams Jr. announced his partnership with J&M Concepts LLC and widow Pam Sutton to distill and distribute a brand of whiskey named after Sutton that was asserted to follow his legacy. After her death, Suttons business continued to operate, and he continued to produce moonshine until his own death in 2009. 33 Years old foodie & cookie lover. We have a lot of people come to Maggie Valley that want to meet Popcorn.. As he once said, I dont bother nobody and nobody better damn sure not mess with me. Buyers came from miles around to sample his goods, and Popcorns celebrity grew. Pam Sutton - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages He was a moonshiner and bootlegger from the United States Appalachian region. . 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. 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). I can't be the only one that misses Popcorn Sutton.I would have loved to pick his brain. She was one of six children born to a sharecropper and a housewife. In March 2009, Sutton, 62, died of carbon monoxide poisoning. "He tried every way in the world to get them (federal authorities) to leave him on house arrest," she said. Stanley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides.