Author, Poet, and Former Lynyrd Skynyrd Bodyguard Gene Odom Signs With Chappell Entertainment

Lynyrd Skynyrd Well someone wants to hear a Lynyrd Skynyrd Allen Collins story. Heres a good one. I cant remember what tour we were in at the time of this nightmare. Me and Ronnie were watching TV when one of the band, I believe it was Billy Powell ran into the room and hollered this guy in the bar just slapped JoJo Billingsley. Damn, lets go Gene. We ran down to the bar and went inside. The place was crowded. Allen and JoJo were sitting at a table. Next to their table was a big fellow in coveralls. We walked up to Allen and JoJo What’s going on? This big ole boy said they tried to take my table. And I’ll whip all you hippies Whoooa I said I doubt very seriously you can whip this bunch of long hairs, partner! Well be glad to keep you from finding out. I said Allen, JoJo lets go Come on Ronnie, Billy, Its time to go upstairs. Come on! The Big ole boy said I didn’t slap no one I just knocked that big ole feather outa my face The action over we left anyway. As we were walking out the lady bartender said Its time for youall to leave, haha Ronnie grabbed his back pocket and said Ill cut ya That is an old saying we had. I got all of them up the stairs and in their rooms. Ronnie and me were standing in the door way to our room when around the corner of the hall come the police and the bartender. There they are. Ronnie stuck his head out the door way. Thats him, hes the one that said he would cut me. The police told Ronnie to put his hands on the wall and started to frisk him. I said, he don’t have no knife. Ronnie had no wallet, nothing but his room key. The cop said, Who are you? I am their security and bodyguard. This all started in the bar. I got everybody to leave with me. Ronnie said that as a joke, no harm done. Just an old saying. The police said, OK just stay out of the bar. No problem. By this time other band members had joined the action. All right, the party’s over. I said, everybody back to their rooms. Allen Collins pops his head out his door, hollering Youall come on in for a drink. Before I could get there and shut his door, a police officer walks in looking for anything, any sign of trouble. He sees a bottle of pills on Allens night stand. The bottle looked like a Christmas tree. The cop picked up the bottle and said, all the pills legal, you got a prescription for these pills? Allen said some of em. Ha ha. The cop said, Stand up and put your hands behind your back. Allen hollered, Gene!!!! I said laughing, Ill call the lawyer, you invited them in. Ronnie said, take care of it , Gene you know what to do. This all cost him. He only had to stay in just a couple of hours. Bonded out and never had to go back. Some money in the right hands and the problem disappeared. The next day Ronnie asked Allen if he had learned anything last night. Allen said, you don’t invite the cops to your party. Ronnie just shook his head and said, that will come out of your bonus. Allen said, probably wont be the last time He was right. That boy paid them ole crooked lawyers and crooked judges untold money for his mishaps. In the end the cost was eternal. His money kept him out of jail for many years. Having money and crooked lawyers was a big reason he kept buying cars and wrecking them. He could get away with it. He surely did pay for it in the last years of his life. Sad But all the talking I did to him didnt really set in until he wrecked that last car and killed his girlfriend. What a way for reality to set in. But I really dont think he thought much about reality. I wish he was still around. His music aint the same. I wonder if he has a fast car in Rock & Roll Heaven? If he does, I bet Ronnies got one foot on the brake.. Miss You’all Gene Odom

The STONED ROADIE SOUP ( Makes 8 Quarts ) 1 - Large Head of Purple Cabbage PRE BOIL CABBAGE FOR ABOUT Eighty minutes BEFORE INCLUDING 1 - 1/2 Gallon of Tomato Juice RINSE CONTENTS OF CANS Thoroughly 3 - 16 oz Cans Diced Tomato's 1 - 28 oz Can Italian Green Beans 1 - 16 oz Can French Cut Green Beans 1 - 16 oz Can Sweet Carrots 1 - 16 oz Can Sweet Peas 1 - 16 oz Can Black Beans 1 - 16 oz Can Navy Beans 1 - 16 oz Can Butter Beans 1 - 16 oz Can Black Eyed Peas 1 - Bottle Zesty Italian Dressing 2 - TSP Cayenne Pepper 2 - tbs Lemon Pepper 1 - tbs Black Pepper 1 - tbs Italian Seasoning 4 – tbs Virgin Olive Oil 1 - tbs Cinnamon

Just to let all fans, survivors, friends, first responders/ rescuers and our return visitors know, that as fall has come and cooler weather approaches, it is finally fast approaching our annual event. Our annual event I am speaking of are the festivities we hold every year at the Lynyrd Skynyrd Monument (LSM), in Gillsburg, Mississippi. Listed below are a few hotels with their information. Included is a limited amount of on-site camping. This event is to reflect, remember, pay respects and honor the twenty-six members of the tragic plane crash of the band and road crew on October 20th, 1977. This was the incident that injured twenty on board and claimed the lives of six more, that occurred very close to the memorial. We also encourage and invite any family members of the deceased or injured aforementioned passengers of the plane, to attend and pay homage with us. We, the members of the LSM Board, have prepared, planned and headlined a weekend on the dates of October 19th (Saturday) and 20th (Sunday), 2024, for y'all to come be a part of with us. This will include food, fellowship and live music all that weekend. There will be a candlelight vigil both days around 6:42 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided on Saturday starting with SLASH (from Charleston, MS), then The Pedestrians (from Lafayette, LA) and closing act for the evening Lone Star Skynyrd (from the Dallas/ Ft. Worth, TX area). Lone Star Skynyrd has become our official band for the monument as a whole. On Sunday we will welcome our good friend, musicians Lance McDaniel and the Shotgun Billys (from West Memphis, AR & Memphis, TN), with very special, returning musical guest Kendall Laine Shaffer (from Prairieville, LA). Again, we invite ALL fans, family, friends, rescuers, first responders, survivors, locals and those fans from around the globe. That is, any of y'all that have never been before to one of our annual events, or have never been to the memorial yet, to come out and experience "The Year 47 Weekend" with us. This is YOUR monument that was placed here by your donations and contribution efforts. Bring a lawn chair and come see us. Sharing the original post of Mike Rounsaville to invite all my friends to this awesome event! Hotels Quality Inn Mccomb 107 Scott Drive, Mccomb, MS - Mccomb Price starting at 70.00 per night and is less than 15 miles to event. 1 (833) 566-6698 Days Inn by Wyndham McComb MS 2298 Delaware Ave, Mccomb, MS - Mccomb Prices start at 68.00 per night 1 (833) 566-6698 Baymont by Wyndham McComb 101 Anna Dr, Mccomb, MS - Mccomb Prices start at 97.00 1 (833) 566-6698 Hampton Inn By Hilton & Suites Mccomb 109 Manisha Drive, Mccomb, MS Prices start at 190.00 per night 13 miles to event. 1 (833) 566-6698 These sites are still available …. 4 - 30-amp camper electrical hook ups, 1 - 50-amp camper hook up and about 7 - 110 volt plugs ins for tents left. I have unlimited primitive (no water or electricity) tent sites. The prices 50-amp camper sites $45 … 30 amp $35 … 110-volt sites $25 … primitive sites $15 . They are first come first serve of course except for the primitive tent sites …My phone number is … 601-248-8470. I have men’s and women’s bathrooms and shower house and the covered pavilion where people usually play music after the daytime events sometimes on up into the night. We usually have a bonfire unless we are under a burn ban like we were last year

Please join us next weekend! (October 19 and 20). 47th Anniversary of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Crash The event and parking are free. Donations will be accepted for the Lynyrd Skynyrd crash survivors. Food truck will be here both days. Bring cash in case Wi-Fi is not working. Bring a chair to sit in. Lynyrd Skynyrd Monument T-shirts will be sold. Saturday, October 19, 2024 Note: These are approximate times. 11:00 am. - Opening prayer 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - Following prayer, the band Slash will play. 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Meet/Greet crash survivors and rescuers. 1:00 pm. - 3:00 pm - The band Pedestrians will play. 3:00 pm. - 5:00 pm - The band Lone Star Skynyrd will play. 6:00 pm. - Candlelight vigil led by crash survivors. Sunday, October 20, 2024 Note: These are approximate times. 1:00 pm - Opening prayer 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm - The band Shotgunbillys and special guests will play. 6:00 pm - Candlelight vigil led by crash survivors.

Crash Survivor Mark Howard, Marc B. Frank, with first responder Dwain Easley, and Jamie D. Wall