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Update: Parrotsville remembers legendary moonshine mogul

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  • XDMAR

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    Aug 15, 2008
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    Clear Lake
    An iconic East Tennessee moonshiner has been found dead in his home, shortly before he was set to report to prison. Officials with knowledge of the investigation believe the case is suicide.
    Marvin 'Popcorn' Sutton was known nationally for the illegal manufacture of corn whiskey.
    The 61 year old is known across the country and world for moonshine.
    Monday, the man who once said "you can't sell it if you can't advertise it" was remembered at the Checkerboard Market and Deli.
    The gas station, just a mile or so down the road from his house is home to a autographed "Popcorn" Sutton clock that the legendary spirit maker hung on the wall.
    They say Sutton wanted to be known for his moonshine and by most accounts, he succeeded.
    "He had all kinds of stuff made with his picture on it, t-shirts, everything. He wanted people to know who he was, where you got that good liquor, it came from Popcorn," Libby Keller, who helps out at the market and knew Sutton, said.
    Monday afternoon, Cocke County Sheriff's deputies and the county coroner found Sutton dead at his home. The case is on-going, but officials with knowledge of the investigation call it suicide.
    Sutton was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to making moonshine and having weapons while on probation. He was scheduled to start serving that sentence in just a few days.
    "I think the only fear Popcorn had about going to prison was to die in prison, he was sick," Keller said.
    He was out on bond at the time of his death, according to deputies.
    "He will always be known as Tennessee's greatest moonshiner, for one thing," Keller said. "I know a lot of people would probably think that's something you wouldn't want to be remembered by, but Popcorn would."
    The online tributes are starting to flood the internet as well.
    An unlikely combination, Sutton was known for living a simple life doing what he knew best. Technology is paying homage: on Facebook one group is nearly 5,000 members strong urging the world to "Leave Popcorn Sutton Alone".
    Some suggest Popcorn will be on the minds of many fans at this weekend's NASCAR race at Bristol.


    WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | Update: Parrotsville remembers legendary moonshine mogul
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    MadMo44Mag

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    Jan 23, 2009
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    Ft.Worth
    Sorry to see a artist go down.
    If you ever had real, properly made shine you would never go back to store bought whiskey.
    I had an uncle from time to time set up a pot still. ( he's dead now so Mr. Fed you are sol)
    Man that was good stuff. He made some oak casks and charred them. Fills them with squeezins and let them age 4 years. Then he charcoal filtered it. That was the best bourbon whiskey I ever drank.
    Sure was sorry when he passed back in 84.
    The still was hand made of cooper by his great grandfather.
    This has made me thirsty
     

    XDMAR

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    Aug 15, 2008
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    Also lets be honest here, making whiskey is not illegal, not paying tax on it is. And when you look at who is now running the treasury how can you fault the man. Heck he might have been in line for a government job.
     

    Texas1911

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    May 29, 2017
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    Austin, TX
    Shame, laws are laws, but is there really any harm in someone making their own 'shine? Drove a man to kill himself over some stupid Quaker law.
     
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