We have a lot of people come to Maggie Valley that want to meet Popcorn.. 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. 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. 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. I remember the blood gushing everywhere, she says. This time, the local cops would be of no help. He hated the persona, says his widow, Pam Sutton. On Monday, she came home from running errands and found him dead in his old Ford. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? 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. Every time Sutton finished filling a barrel, he would give Nick a gallon and sell the rest to him. 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. 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. He seemed kind and good, not perfect but who is? 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. 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. "[21][22], Sutton's body was initially interred at a family graveyard in Mount Sterling, North Carolina. Whiskey is a great beverage to try if youre looking for something different. 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). Shit while they were focused on him how much herion coke pills ? I can brag about one thing, Popcorn once said in his thick Southern drawl. Sutton was convicted multiple times for selling moonshine without a license. He was handed down light charges at the time, netting nothing more than probation. [3][4][5] He wrote a self-published autobiographical guide to moonshining production, self-produced a home video depicting his moonshining activities, was the subject of several documentaries, including one that received a Regional Emmy Award, and is the subject of the award-winning biography and photobook The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton.[6]. Small batches of this alcohol are typically made and can contain 40 to 80 percent alcohol by volume. I dont believe it or not, but the vast majority of it happened in the last few decades. "Nobody was going to tell him what to do," Sky told Knox News in 2009. His most recent conviction for selling over 650 gallons of moonshine resulted in him being placed on probation. Sutton'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. He ran a PVC pipe from the exhaust of his Ford Fairlane into his window and sealed it up with duct tape. Pretty dam sad if you ask me. Famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, whose incorrigible bootlegging ways were as out of step with modern times as his hillbilly beard and overalls, took his own life rather than go to prison for making white lightning, his widow says. 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. As of 2022, she has not appeared in the media for a long time. The net worth of Andy Sutton is unknown, but some sources claim that he was worth as much as $13 million when he died in 1993. Pam Sutton had that steadfast determination and through her incredible penmanship, we can still see just how fast and who won and who . 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. 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. He was eating a piece of Blueberry pie. 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. 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. His white lightning wasnt just potent and sweetit was illegal. Since his death, a new company, as well as an associated whiskey brand, has been launched in his memory. [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. Since 2011, the show has followed the lives of individuals who produce moonshine in the Appalachian Mountains. [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. Today, Sky Sutton is a published author, historian and genealogist. She told the Associated Press (per NBC): "He couldn't go to prison. He was also known for being convicted of crimes related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. Maggie Valley lost a friend and an ambassador, said James Carver, a long-time friend of Popcorns and a Maggie Valley native. 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. Willie Nelson had him onstage at a local show, and Johnny Knoxville taped a visit to Popcorns cabin. A popcorn net worth of between one and seven million dollars is estimated for Sutton Popcorn. According to filmmaker Neal Hutcheson, Sutton remains an intriguing figure. Where Is Jungle Pam Hardy Now? They aint no damn body that can beat me making likker. And, in the end, he chose to die rather than get beat. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Over the course of his infamous career, Sutton faced a number of criminal complaints and convictions for moonshine-related crimes. Sutton was sentenced to 18 months in prison in January 2009 for tax evasion. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, she and her father spoke on the phone occasionally. Pam St. Clement Birthday. I sounded like absinthe. Some view him as a folk hero. "He did it his way. 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. She suspected even then that her daddy might be responsible. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. Distractify is a registered trademark. 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. In 1982, Memphis Popcorn Sutton helped to found the industrys first terminal. While the series typically follows current moonshiners, part of the show features the late Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. This is likely the event that spurred the internets 1983 search. He made his first film appearance in 2002, with Neal Hutcheson's documentary 'Mountain Talk.' Pam Sutton is a much loved and valued member with the Inner West Police Area Command. Sutton, an infamous moonshiner, had been trying to outrun revenuers for more than three decades now. He was methodical about his brand and making a living, Grosser recalls. Damian Sutton, 2, has died at a Detroit hospital after being taken off life support. Then he cut on the engine and leaned back in his seat. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/popcorn-sutton-46282.php. But as Popcorn discovered, the buyers were federal agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Americas most notorious moonshiner was under arrest. 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. Personally I think they should have left him alone and focus on what there real job is he didn't hurt nobody. 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. Clearly, the actress is still alive and well today, and she's been in remission for the . Pam Sutton married Popcorn Sutton just two years before his death in 2007. 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. 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. Others view him as a criminal. The epitaph on his footstone reads "Popcorn Said Fuck You".[14][25]. If he liked you he liked you, and if he didnt, you better stay away, recalled Carver. 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. DE, Popcorn Suttons XXX Tennessee White Whiskey can also be purchased in a mason jar. Popcorn Sutton poses with one of his moonshine stills (photo shared with permission from Sucker Punch Pictures). Popcorns stuff wasnt just cleanit was so tasty that locals treasure their last mason jars of it to this day. Previously, Pam was Chief Executive Officer at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Since his death, a new company and associated whiskey brand have been named after him. 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. The states with the most moonshiners, on the other hand, are not among the top five for per capita moonshine production. And the skirmishes continue: After his daughter Regina fulfilled his lifelong wish by burying him next to his parents at the Bend of the River, Pam Sutton exhumed his remains and buried him back in her own front yard at an elaborate ceremony attended by many, including Hank Williams Jr. Over a jar of moonshine at Popcorns cabin, Pam tells me with tearful eyes that his grave site had been getting desecrated, and she wanted him close to home. "He would tell you exactly what he thought, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Cutie Pie survived a snake bite in 2017. He was a folk hero. Even in death his battles wage on: Popcorns whiskey recently became available legally for the first time, but a family feud over his legacy shows no signs of resolution. 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. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the states with the most illegal stills are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. Joe and Pam were not present for Kobe's final NBA game, nor were they in attendance for his jersey retirement ceremony in 2017. Lunn and Henley and the other employees of the distillery became employees of the Sazerac Company. [40] The CEO of Popcorn Sutton Distilling is Megan Kvamme. 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. Marvin was a kind of cultural icon and an embodiment of moonshine yore when it comes to producing the liquor. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [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. 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. The story of the life of Popcorn Sutton shows that Americans are still not really free! Neal used footages from 'Mountain Talk' in his next documentary, 'The Last One.' 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. 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. So its no surprise that the law eventually caught up with him. Marvin " Popcorn " Sutton (October 5, 1946 - March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. Glass and Silversmithing Arts. 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. 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. To distinguish himself from the competition, he took pride in quality. After he attacked a popcorn vending machine with a pool cue in the 1960s or 1970s, he was dubbed Popcorn by the media. 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. moonshine must be made from cracked corn, and the kernels must be large enough to break down into sugar during fermentation. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley. Spouse. The best way to make Popcorn Suttons recipe was discovered in a large quantity of instructions and tips. But how well do you really know the legend of Popcorn Sutton? "He was a true moonshiner," his widow added. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Though he looked like Snuffy Smith, he had the mind of a mountain Edison and evolved his family still into an ingenious underground moonshine machine. Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. In 2009, an accidental carbon monoxide overdose claimed the life of the actor. In 2010, she began distilling and distributing Hank Williams Jr.s whiskey with him. This left Pam to raise their children largely on her own. Buyers came from miles around to sample his goods, and Popcorns celebrity grew. [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. He gained fame as a moonshiner and bootlegger in the United States at a time when illicit businesses were the norm. In 2007, Sutton was caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine by local Cocke County authorities. The lawsuit was settled in 2014. You can also show off your personality to your friends and family by tasting it in a different way than any other spirit. and including a lot of other shit came in this country illegal. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. Some Popcorn Sutton branded products can still be purchased directly from the original company. It took his money, but didnt produce popcorn, eliciting a few swift blows from Sutton to crack open the machine. We have found 168 people in the UK with the name Pamela Sutton. She believes in elegance through simplicity, with designs that reflect harmony with nature and the occasional sly sense of humor. Following this, he was put on probation by Cocke County authorities. Suttons exhumed body was transported via horse-drawn carriage to his property in Parrotsville, Tenn., where he remains today. Pam said that a few days later, after coming home from running errands, she found her husband dead in his Ford. His archive footages were featured in the 2016 docuseries 'Moonshiners.'. Click here to find personal data about Pamela Sutton including phone numbers, addresses, directorships, electoral roll information, related property prices and other useful information. I can relate to that, as I am the same way. 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. 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. 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. In March 2009, Sutton, 62, died of carbon monoxide poisoning. There arent any more not in his form or fashion, thats for sure., Julia Merchant contributed to this article. His mind would just not accept it. Many moonshiners associate Popcorn Sutton with moonshine. 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. 'It was beyond surreal'When he pleaded guilty, it was his fifth conviction. Suttons money has been used to fund the production of moonshine and to support the people who make 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. 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. 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. 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. Still, Popcorn has retained close ties to Maggie Valley, and the town is often viewed as the main stomping ground of the mountains most infamous shiner. Autopsy results may be weeks away. Did you know anything about Popcorn Sutton that we missed? People had to make a living somehow back then I guess. My deputies wouldnt bother him, Moore, a clean-cut retiree in a pink polo shirt, tells me. Pam Sutton, the wife of the late moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, has been left with a large sum of money following her husbands death. However, there is no doubt that Pam is a hard-working woman who has been through a lot in her life. June 5, 2022 Posted by: Category: Uncategorized; No Comments . Sutton Popcorn Company retains the right to use the name in some capacity. Children. Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. In fact, he came from a long line of bootleggers. So credit the federal government for my husband being dead, I really do," Pam Sutton told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday from the couple's home in the Parrottsville community, about 50 miles east of Knoxville. It was an absolute honor to meet him. Inspired by the story, Grosser suggested they partner on a distillery and sell Popcorns moonshine legally. 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. "She's stiff as a board. He was 62 years old. Birthday: May 21, 1942. JB and South Mountain Distilling Co. began making moonshine in late 2018. 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. 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. Reports vary on why he was exhumed and reburied. He also had a coffin ready in his living room. 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.