Being a Sober Friend

Gene's Patreon: / hangingoutwithgeneodom
Questions? Email us: [e-mail]
Gene talks a little bit about how he helped keep the Lynyrd Skynyrd band on track, and their first totally sober show.

[@OldassBoomer]

I had the pleasure of meeting Ironworker Gene during construction of the SJRPP around 1984-85. He was still healing from the crash. It was an honor.

[@raymonddriggers]

Have you been over to Lacy’s house over off of Lakeshore Blvd it looks really nice and it’s on the historic preservation landmarks.

[@OldassBoomer]

@@raymonddriggers I haven’t been over there but I’ll be sure to do that. Thanks!

[@raymonddriggers]

@@OldassBoomeryou did know back around 2000 they moved Ronnie over to Memorial Park next to The FHP office for a added security against people violating his gravesite just about everyone is buried there now, i was over there a year ago. Not sure if i saw Leon’s gravesite, and it was right before Gary Rossington passed away, so I’m not sure if they buried him over there or not.

[@michaelfuller2378]

Man, I could listen to Gene stories all day long. Gene, I have a five-acre pond near Lake City that has some very big bass in it and you are welcome anytime.

[@neintoten6155]

Gene has lived a very interesting life!

[@mikemiller6628]

Gene is a class act.

[@mariaday712]

I love Gene's stories. I'm sure you did the best you could. After Ronnie was gone, I think everyone was lost. There really wasn't anything you could do. God Bless you, Gene for trying to keep them clean.

[@homerbrockner9406]

I bought band t-shirts mail order from Gene in the early nineties and will get to finally meet him at the Thirty-eight Special show in Alexandria, LA Saturday night!

[@JFP9036]

You should think about putting some #hashtags in the title or description such as #lynyrdskynyrd #ronnievanzant #southernrock #gillsburg #mississippi #freebird #simpleman etc., so people doing searches for those terms may find Genes videos and page too, and bring in more views and patreon help too. ❤ And another great story Gene thank you.

[@TuesdayLoew]

Always love to hear Gene's Stories💙

[@PatriciaLen66]

Thank you, Gene, for trying to get the guys sober!

[@redbird54]

Thank you for sharing gene ,u listen to lynyrd skynyrd every day. God bless you and your family

[@redbird54]

I meant to say I listen to lynyrd skynyrd every day

[@howabouthetruth2157]

I truly wish tens of thousands more people would start "hangin' with Gene" on this channel, get those view counts through the roof........to help Gene out. The man deserves it. He walked away from his job/pension as an Ironworker to help the band in big ways. Gene was NEVER "a groupie" or an "opportunist". The man simply granted Ronnie's request. And he nearly paid with his life due to that damned plane crash. In some ways, Gene is STILL paying with his life. He has more & better personal stories about the band members than anyone else, through legal action, he single-handedly blocked Gary Rossington from "legally" stealing the the Skynyrd band's estate from Ronnie's widow & children, and he's always told the truth.......no matter the cost.

[@fayewittwer5208]

Didn't know that Gary tried to do that Didn't think he was that type of guy

[@joejohnston2035]

Well on their way to sobriety, Gene, you did what you could

[@AvaRose00]

Great story Gene. I live in Macon Georgia and need to come your way for a tour…

[@lukemccardle2379]

I could listen to your stories everyday a big shout out from Lake City Fl!

[@747jprozka]

I got to meet Ronnie Gary Leon Billy Allen Artimas Dean Kilpatrick also, But never you Gene I don't no how I missed you. And when I get your autograft picture I can add to my Skynyrd album I love your stories you filled alot of blanks. I had drank with the whole gang and Leon wrote to me much joy and thanks for the T for Texas, But like most people I am sober.Thanks Gene for all the things you had said how it all went down. So glad I can be your friend now, Ronnie and the rest was my true friends.

[@ROCK.ON.]

GENE HELLO FROM DOWN SOUTH CAROLINA AREA THANKS FOR YOUR TIME GENE FROM CHARLES LEE MY REAL NAME ALSO PEACE IM A LONGHAIR GUITAR PLAYER AND I FN LUV IT TURN IT UP

[@charlestaylor3674]

I know it was an Awesome Experience being with the band in their prime. Just alone, growing up with Ronnie & being best friends. The fishing trips they took. I could only imagine all the stories Gene could tell. I would like to hear some of the things he keeps inside that only he knows about. I know for sure he had his hands full with that group of guys. Trying to keep them sober.... lol . Just imagine hiding their booze. I bet they gave him hell over that stuff. Gene seems like a down to earth, stand up guy. I can see why RVZ wanted him with him.

[@SouthVARonnie]

Hey Gene: I bet you never realized when Ronnie had his arm around you, saying you were responsible for those 100,000 fans seeing the performance of their lives, you had no idea that gift would keep giving for generations, and allow fans all over the world to witness Skynyrd at their very best, so far. I think we'd all be kidding ourselves, if we thought that was all they had. With the band & Steve still getting comfortable together, and your prohibition on alcohol before shows, there's no tellin' what coulda' been, and that isn't even counting the drugs. I just wanna' thank you Gene. I've seen all their songs from CA & their live playlists, that I missed by a couple of years. I've also gone through every Live Freebird video performance I could find through the years, and Oakland is even better than Knebworth, so "Thanks Gene". I was a Union Pipefitter myself, out of Norfolk. I know several Iron Workers from here, who worked at Surry Nuke in the 70's, a bit before I started my Apprenticeship. Did it ever get slow enough in Fla., that you hit the road? I started in Paper Mills, Chemical Plants, & on Navy Piers, in the mid-eighties. Then worked Coal-fired Power Pants, & Auto Assembly Plants in the 90's, until I got a Field Sup't.'s job, at the Ford Norfolk Assembly Plant. I thought I was set for life, until Clinton began sending new Auto. plants to Mexico, & then Hussein began closing all of the local Plants, to save Earth from "Climate Change". I just couldn't stand working commercial jobs, doing mid-size Heat & Air & Public Restrooms. I'm a fitter/welder who loves walking steel, and rigging pipe with cranes & chainfalls. Those "Ratty" little commercial contractors just aren't my thing. They'd make me fit & tack the system up without beveling the pipe, then they'd call in two Rats, who owned farms on the Eastern Shore, to sneak in on the weekend with their own machine, & the whole system was mig-welded out on Monday morning when we got there. Screw That Shit!

[@davidrice3337]

Gene was and will always be a true friend - The Survivors deserved better - much better - The current management and the members - Pocahontas Jr included , should be ashamed for not stepping up for the original crew - They have gotten filthy - literally- filthy rich off of what they did and the reputation they made - Someone should find out who got the money Ted Nugent donated - the IRS should have a record and if it wasnt reported - well thats a whole different situation -

[@richjohnson1877]

Ask Gene why him and Artimus don't get along?

[@superfuzzymomma]

Please.

[@terryharvey8020]

Artimus had some trouble with the law about child porn ,of some sort

[@kimpeterson8494]

​@@terryharvey8020truth

[@TeutonicTruth]

​@@terryharvey8020They turned out to be false allegations.

[@softhotty]

Did Gene Odom kick some folks butts in his day ?

[@perijetton9275]

Love a good Gene story!

[@larrytate5605]

Thanx for another great video. dave in NC🙂

[@billyshane3804]

Gene Hobart is the MAN

[@stephenanthony217]

👏👏💯💯👏👏

[@doris1755]

I. Would love. To. Hear. The. Whole. Story. Of. Ronnie and. Dickie Betts story

[@Taypee15]

Question who is the gentleman doing the interview/asking Gene questions here. Voice sounds like the guy that did a Thesis on Skynyrd in college and was doing phone interviews with plane crash survivors/rescuers

[@joemueller4738]

I think after his interviews and a visit to Florida he returned to Canada and was never heard from again, he was in very poor health back then when he was doing his thesis. He was a pretty cool guy and great Skynyrd fan for sure.Michael O’Hara

[@Taypee15]

⁠@@joemueller4738thanks Joe!

[@hotwheel6663]

My Boy Mean Gene!

[@rrrttt1112]

So, just who is the "other guy" Gene is talking about?

[@SouthVARonnie]

All I can think of, is that it was someone clean, who Ronnie trusted to hold all the dope & strictly ween them down. Then he'd have to trust them not to cheat. But they could never continue to perform well, if it was some "legit" therapist, who was running some outpatient therapy while😢 on the road.

[@countryboy5510]

sad