Dear Gene:
Thank you for taking the time and putting in the effort it took for you to write your book "Remembering the Free Birds…:" I have just finished it, and couldn’t put it down. I am a pain management physician (and anesthesiologist) in Mobile and found myself reading it in between seeing patients in the office!
I’m also a guitar player and with my local band here, we play a few Synyrd songs of course, which is quite fun. I’ve got tickets to see the band with Johnnie in Gulf Shores, Al. this Memorial Day weekend. Can’t wait. I’ve got a couple of my patients who are musicians , rockers (and also LS fans) whom I’m gonna purchase a couple of copies of your book for as gifts, as well. I’ve been a fan since I was an 10 year old kid in 1975 growing up in Atlanta. I remember the fall of ‘77 as being a depresing time for me, as Elvis passed in August and then the accident with you guys in October. I told my brother David, the other day, who is an attorney now in Atlanta, that I couldn’t believe it’s coming up on 30 years.
Thanks again,
J. Patrick Couch, MD
(rockindoc)
posted by skynyrddixie at 5:51 am
Dear Billy,
I tried to respond to your bulletin, but silly myspace wouldn’t let me. Anyway I just wanted to write you and thank you for keeping them alive through your page and through your friendship. Your page means a lot to me and I am proud to have you on my Friend’s list. My friend and I were on our way to school the morning that the news of the crash was broadcast over the radio. They followed up the news by playing "Free Bird", and to this day I cannot make it all the way through that song without busting out in tears. They were more than just a great band to me. They were like family. I was proud to say they were from my home town and they made me proud I was from the south. They really are legends to me and there will always hold a special place in my heart. My dad and step sister knew the family and said they were really awesome people. I will keep you and all the families in my prayers. And once again Thank you.
Your Myspace Friend,
Dixie Darlin
posted by skynyrddixie at 8:28 am
Hi Gene,
I thought you might be interested in this painting of Ronnie that my friend did for me.
I live in England and have lived in a Lynyrd Skynyrd fantasy land for about twenty four years now.
To me they are the finest group of people that ever made music, and I can only imagine what it was like to know them or hang around them. You are a very lucky man to have had that privelige! Ronnie, Allen, and Gary between them wrote some astounding music. I listen almost every day to the original Lynyrd Skynyrd and never grow tired of it. It is like my only religion, and has influenced my life so much.
When I hear Ronnie’s voice and Allen’s blistering guitar, everything is ok.
I am half way through reading your book for the second time, and it’s hard sometimes to grasp the sheer tragedy of it all, ‘cos that’s what it is isn’t it? It’s a heart-breaking story. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Write back if you know anyone who would be interested in paintings of Ronnie. My friend is good and he’s nearly finished one of Allen playing his flying V. Can’t wait to get that on my wall as well!
Best wishes to you Gene.
Cat
posted by skynyrddixie at 5:16 pm
My wife and I traveled to visit my 95 year old Grandmother in DeRidder, Louisiana on April, 13 2007. That is another great story!!! After talking with my good friend Steve Martin in Mathews, North Carolina and studying the map I realized Gillsburg was only about an hour north of Interstate 12.
On our return trip we went straight up Interstate 55 from Interstate 12 at Hammond, Louisiana. I have always heard that the new owner did not allow anyone on his property that he had purchased from Johnny Mote. Mr. Mote was the owner of the land at the time of the October 20, 1977 plane crash.
We arrived at Gillsburg, which is a crossroads with a few houses and an old café that had not been open in years. About two miles beyond that point I spotted a farmer traveling down his driveway towards the road. I stopped him and inquired about the crash site. He said it was all grown up and the present owner would not let anyone near the crash site. He gave us directions and we were off on the hunt. Fortunately I had a rental car, because the dirt road we traveled down was not well maintained as well as not being the correct way to the site. We turned around and headed beyond where he told us to turn and finally came upon “Gene’s Grocery”. Imagine that.
Debra Moore was behind the counter and told me that no one was allowed on the property. Seated at a small booth in the store was Jimmy Stewart, a long time resident of Gillsburg who assisted in removing five victims from the horrible scene. I got a cup of coffee and almost left without paying. As we talked, the phone rang and at first I was not paying a lot of attention. I over heard Debra saying that “I have a couple here who would like to see property where the crash occurred”. The lady on the other end of the phone was the owner of the property.
The next thing I know we are at the owners home. Mr. Nyugen was trying to crank a merry tiller. I introduced myself and told him why I was there. Evidently he knew nothing about the earlier phone conversation. He told me nothing was there, thirty years had passed etc. I could see he was not interested in what I was.
About this time I saw his wife through the kitchen window and we both waved at each other. She immediately came out spoke quickly to her husband in their native tongue and Wow what a change in venue. Like I have always said, “Thank God for Women”. The next thing I know we are being given a personal escort to the site.
They were very nice and told us to stay as long as we wanted.
Barbara and I walked all around. We both noticed how peaceful and tranquil the place was. I had not realized they had only missed the field by less than 50 feet. This entire area only changed by nature. It was a time to wonder, a time to question, a time to ponder. It was something I never will forget….. I can tell you I had mixed emotions that can only be understood by Lynyrd Skynyrd fans. I will let the pictures tell the rest of our experience and of course you know the rest of the story……..
-Billy Webb
This is the field the pilot was trying to land the plane. The far right corner about 50 feet into the woods is where the plane came to rest.
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This shot is right at the edge of the field
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This is all that is left of the monument that was built for the concert with Artimus Pyle and Travis Tritt
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This is the spot where the plane came to rest on that fateful flight of October 20, 1977
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The spot where Lynyrd Skynyrd plane came to rest almost 30 years later. This area is unchanged except by nature.
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This shot facing the west was almost completely covered.
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The trees still bear the many tributes fans have carved in them over the years.
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Many people have made the journey to this spot over the years to pay their respects.
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A very peaceful place now, in deep contrast to the horrible tragedy that occurred on October 20, 1977.
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Fly on Free Bird!!!!!!!
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Gene’s Grocery is about 1 Mile from the October 20, 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd Band crash site.
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posted by skynyrddixie at 5:04 pm
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