![]() ![]() Today Gene travels the country telling his story selling books that he has written about his time with the Band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Gene was thrown through a gaping hole that opened up in the fuselage upon impact causing him a major head injury a broken neck, broken back and burns over most of his upper body. He lost his eye when a Phosphorous deicing flare ignited burning his eye out as he lay unconscious under the very engine that had issues leading to the over fuel usage. It was during their tour in 1977 the Convair 240 passenger plane the band was on crashed in a swamp in Gilsburg Mississippi. Ronnie VanZant hired Gene to look after the band and hopefully help with the drug abuse. ![]() Reluctantly he gave in and began touring with the band. Ronnie used to visit Gene at his jobs and tell him "Gene you need to come on the road with me and be my security". When Gene returned from his duty he started Iron working as a welder on local jobs. It was while he was away Lynyrd Skynyrd honed their skills as a band and became famous. In the late sixties Gene was drafted into the army. Gene was also childhood friends with all the original band members ever since they were all just little kids. It was with Gene Odom fishing in Ocala fl. Gene and Ronnie used to like to play baseball fish and ride bicycles together. They met as young boys and hung out on the west side of Jacksonville where they went to school. It was there that he became friends with Lynyrd Skynyrd band founder Ronnie VanZant. Gene Odom Grew up on the west side of Jacksonville in the early fifties and sixties. he was able to thank them and get to now exactly what happened while he was going through his ordeal. Paul was at the Monument unveiling where he met the first responders that saved his life. He is a very humble man that has never asked for anything and now is the time he needs our help!!! Paul is now in a wheel chair and struggles to make ends meet. The Hospital surgeon was actually on sight and directed the first responders to make sure the creek water did not make contact with any open wounds. Every passenger was carried through the swamp and had to be raised up high above the water as they were carried across the creek that had to be crossed to get to safety. ![]() like many others he was extracted from the plane by the first responders. Paul was with the band on the Street Survivors Tour when the plane went down and suffered horrible injuries as a result. Craig Reed stated that when Ronnie whistled Paul needed to be ready to turn it up. Paul Welch was a sound man for Lynyrd Skynyrd and was responsible for mainly making Ronnie sound good through the mic and sound system for the venue. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |