The night Junior Samples caught fire.

[Will Carry]

My father was a veteran of world war two. He fought the Japanese as an infantryman.

When he got home they gave him a FREE education. I remeber the Viet Nam vets getting a free ride through college. (I think ALL vets deserve a free education. It levels the playing field). He went to the East Alabama Polytechinical Institue (Auburn). He did so well that they let him go to Emory University and he became country doctor in Conyers Georgia. One night he got called....There was a terrible accident. Some fellow had wrecked his car and was suffering from burns. Dad drove off and came back the next afternoon tired as hell but he had several jars of clear liquid. Many years later when we were watching Hee Haw on TV. Dad spoke up and said "That's the man I helped when he wrecked his car that night!" It was Junior Samples. Junior Samples was a serious race car driver....but he wasn't racing that night. He was hallin' shine.

Note: Dad used to come home from house calls with chickens, pigs, moonshine, he even came home once with a Perkins double barrel, percusion cap, shotgun made in London England. I just gave that Shotgun to my sister's son. Those North Georgia folk may have been poor but they were proud.

Edited June 1, 2011 by Will Carry

[R1100R]

I grew up in Lithonia/Conyers, GA. My dad used to run shine when he was young, Will Carry we are also to the same age also.

Thanks for the great story.

Edited June 1, 2011 by R1100R

[Will Carry]

I left Conyers in 1965 when I was in the third grade. I still remeber the Conyers Theater. It was segregated. Black people had to sit in the balcony and were not allowed in the lobby. They had to wait at the lobby door to get popcorn and Cokes. When they intergrated, Mr. Clay had to shut down the theater. The Ku Klux Klan said they would burn the theater if he allowed black people to sit with white people. Mr. Clay sold the theater to a church. Damn those were ...turbulant times.

[bajabuc]

KKK= Domestic terrorists

[MacGyver]

My wife's grandfather was a "revenuer" for his entire career with the Atlanta office of the ATF. I've read several books on moonshing in Georgia, because he's usually mentioned. They all said that they hoped it wasn't Carl Koppe chasing them.

[gregintenn]

Cool story. THanks for sharing. I loved Jr. Samples.

[vontar]

I know people that used to make moonshine. I have been told some good stories. They all quit before I was in the picture so I only know stories, but from what I hears they made some some the best shine in the area.

However I don't know anyone that still makes it.

[Oh Shoot]

I learned to drink largely on moonshine. Was a pro among amateurs by time I go to college. Highway 58 from Nooga to near Knoxville was part of Thunder Road, the Kingston curves mentioned in the song all straightened out long ago, though.

I never heard of Junior Samples until Hee Haw, though. Of course Junior Johnson was the famous shine hauler cum early NASCAR superstar back in the day.

Great reminisce, Will.

- OS

Edited June 2, 2011 by OhShoot

[Spook]

That's a great story, Will.... I remember Jr. from Hee Haw, too. He just kinda sat around and smiled. He was probably 4 bills then.

[CLC]

You guys make me miss old Popcorn! Still have some of his!

[Guest BEARMAN]

Call BR549 folks, for a used car deal you can't refuse...Junior Samples was one of the original Hee Haw regulars...RIP Junior.

http://youtu.be/5S2z8rDL9Hg

[Guest Ae-35]

On one ship I was on, a feller from Ga. , an EM, asked me to help him make a still, we had some good shine for 4 months of the west-pac , still was found while at Pearl, before returning to SD. I heard later the XO tried some...... kicked his butt ! haha.