Hey, Gene, felt obliged to write and commend you and Coach for providing fans of L.S. the tales we were inevitably deprived of by the premature demise of the original band (Don’t think Skynyrd isn’t still big up here in the North). I picked up your first book during a reunion tour show back in 1988, and of course, loved it.

If you’re ever in New Hampshire, give me a shout. I’d love to meet you and Coach Skinner.

Best wishes, Don from New Hampshire

Rick Mikulla wanted to do something special for his 43rd Birthday. Being a Huge Ronnie Van Zant and Lynyrd Skynyrd Fan, what better than a trip to Jacksonville, FL to visit all the old Skynyrd historical haunts. Gene Odom picked him up at the airport Saturday morning and the trip began. Here are some of the photos and Rick can tell you the rest.

Rick pays his respect to his hero	Rick and Gene at Claude Hamner’s old country store. Part of the inspiration for “The Ballard of Curtis Loew”
Bench top from the cemetery where Ronnie, Steve, and Cassis were first buried	Rick at Brickyard road
Favorite eating spot of Ronnie Van Zant. Check out the sign!	Rick on the Dock at “Hell House”
Standing where the “Hell House” once stood. Left to Right  Tony, Rick, Duane, Gene, and TR Real Skynyrd Fans!!!	The photo shoot of Nuthin’ Fancy back album
Anytime we get a visitor from the north.  We like to work them a little.  Rick helps install the hard wood flooring at “Coach” Leonard Skinner’s residence on the westside of Jacksonville, Florida	Gene and Rick collect a little bark off the Old Oak Tree, from the song “That Smell”
Freebird Cafe!	Judy Van Zant talks with Gene Odom and Rick Mikulla outside her FreeBird Cafe.
Coach Leonard Skinner autographing the famous guitar

Hey Gene, I have read both your book and watched your dvd and wanted to thank you for putting them both out…….I’m only 22 soon to be 23 and didn’t have the luxury of being around when the original lineup was formed and performing (original lineup is Lynyrd Skynyrd) to me…..Ronnie had a unbelievable talent to write in lyrical ryhme about things he’d experienced and tell a story in the song…..God I wished he’d had lived…..he woulda been bigger than Elvis & The Beatles COMBINED!!!!!!!! I live only probably 45 miles away from Miami, Ok where Steve Gaines was from and actually seen the new lineup there last year and there great and awesome for caring on the legacy but there’s just no denying that Ronnie Van Zant was Lynyrd Skynyrd!!! I’ve sent ya a picture of my custom license plate I have on my truck……."One More From The Road" stays playing in my truck and the original Skynyrd is 99.9% of all I listen to!!!!!!! Thank you so much once again Gene!!!!!!!!!!!

~Jason

–

"If I Leave Here Tomorrow…Would You Still Remember Me?!"

~Ronnie Van Zant~

George McCorkle of Marshall Tucker Band, Steve Grisham of The Outlaws and Phil Stockes of Pure Prairie League performed together at the Music Ranch in Lakeland Florida on March 2, 2007. Renegade Band opened the show with some good songs and a great Skynyrd set! The Legends took the stage to a very excited crowd. They took turns playing their favorites from their previous bands. George McCorkle played 3 songs off of his new CD. They ended the show with a rousing rendition of Can’t you See. That received a standing ovation.

George McCorkle of Marshall Tucker Band

From left to right Phil Stokes, Steve Grisham, George McCorkle, Fast Fred Cole, Renegade

Gene Odom was special guest for the Legends night.ýÿ He is pictured here with Syndicated Radio Personalities Left to right Gene Odom, Patty The Radio Girl, & J-Rock