Comments on: Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone

By: Howard Kells

Howard Kells — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:19:17 +0000

I had the pleasure of Poodie’s friendship for over 35 years, he is missed by all. A true legend in his own time. I remember being on the Red Headed Stranger Tour in 1975 where Poodie put BBQ on the rider as the crew meal, well after 45 days of BBQ in a row, Poodie always kept his life long smile on. I know Poodie is enjoying BBQ & music in Heaven.

By: Susan Dudley Levonius

Susan Dudley Levonius — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:47:35 +0000

We should all be so loved, cherished, and remembered. Here’s to a life well-lived and full of what life is supposed to be – at least as how I see it and, I suspect, as do most of those who knew the man Poodie. Save a place at the table for all of us up there in that Heavenly Home.

By: Barbara Westbrook

Barbara Westbrook — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:27:45 +0000

Thank you. Love is so real in your words and in the hearts of everyone who came in contact with Poodie. He lived a great life and left so much more than he came with. What a legacy. You did a great job sharing it with us. Thank you.

By: Loren from Wisconsin

Loren from Wisconsin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:34:23 +0000

Happy Birthday in Heaven Poodie!

Take care of my dog Murray with a backstage pass in heaven,
and thanks for all my dog’s backstage passes here.
I hope he is on the bus with you, as he always was here.
I won’t be calling you this year on my cell.

Your good friend forever, Loren

By: Norman Draper

Norman Draper — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:45:57 +0000

Poodie…..

There has not been a day gone by since May 6 that I haven’t thought of Poodie, and usually not just once. I met him seventeen years ago in The Irish Pub in Atlantic City. I had no idea how much my life would change…. You are so right: I still can’t believe he’s gone, and I can’t believe how much I miss him.

Thank you for writing this piece.

By: Esther Jimenez

Esther Jimenez — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:44:56 +0000

I enjoyed reading every word…we all have our stories and we can’t help but smile when we think of POODIE, right? It was fun on Poodie’s bus and I remember the first time I met Mama Locke, we passed the yellow wine around quite a few times and CP Vaughn is the one that introduced me. I didn’t want to get off the bus until I could walk straight, but then again I had to watch Willie with my Club Luck buddies, and so I did. He was Poodielicious and I will always feel his presence at a Willie concert, and at Poodie’s Hilltop…Peace

By: Turk Pipkin

Turk Pipkin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:02:39 +0000

Thanks everyone for all the great comments and emails. And thanks to BudRocks who sent a bunch of photos which I received too late to get into the issue. Have to add his comments about playing golf with Poodie in every state but Alaska, and in buddy’s words…
“While touring with Willie we’ve been lucky enought to play rounds of Golf in Canada, Mexico, Ireland, England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

Poodie and Myself had an ongoing death match with Kris Kristofferson & Willie when we were touring with the Highwaymen. We once got lost on a 36 hole layout in Adelaide, Australia after playing past dark. All 4 of us were walking and we didn’t know the layout. We played into complete darkness. After wandering for awhile we split up to look for the clubhouse (before cell phones) and by the time we all found each other, it was almost midnight.

We played with Waylon Jennings when he thought he wanted to take up golf. I remember dodging kangaroos that day. Playing with Kris and Willie in Singapore, I remember a monkey stealing Poodies golf ball and running up a tree and taunting Poodie.”

Thanks, Buddy for more great stories.

By: Randy Welch

Randy Welch — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:25:15 +0000

Great reflection on Poodie. Got to know Poodie at several of WIllie’s show and he always had his big grin on his face and two WIllie picks for me at every show. I noticed the picks in the picture. Do you know where I can get one of the picks. It would be ultimate addition to my Willie pick collection.

Been to see Willie 4-5 times since Poodie’s last show and it is not the same. Have not gotten a Willie pick since Poodie’s passing.

By: Danny Meazell

Danny Meazell — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:54:11 +0000

Very Nice Turk. A Few years ago I was setting outside Poodies with Poodie thinking about another friend we had lost, Dee Herrera. I had brought a large bottle of Tequila I had saved for 20 years. I had let all Dees closest friends have a shot from the bottle. Poodie had taken his turn and as we set there as the sun was going down, just the two of us kindred spirits I took one last drag from the almost empty bottle. There was still a healthy amount and I stood up in front of Poodie and said, “Poodie I think you should kill the bottle. Dee loved you and this place and I think its only right you kill it.” After the last drop he said that was the very best Tequila he had ever tasted. I still have the empty bottle!
Four years later my drink was not Tequila it was Whisky River. I was standing beside Tim at The Back Porch petting his parrot and talking to him and Bugs Henderson and saying “What do you mean I have drank you out of Whisky River, You have 5 bars! He said ” I can’t help it you drank all the Whisky River Danny.” This time I had lost another dear friend and was toasting him with what else but Whisky River. It was Poodies memorial and I still couldn‘t believe he was gone. ! That day at Dee’s memorial years ago Poodie had brought a bottle too. It was more like a Jug. A Jug of Moonshine. Poodie always had some! We emptied that bottle together too.
I think I will get a new bottle of Whisky River because I can’t find moonshine like Poodie. I might just put it up for 20 years too. Poodie the last shot is yours!
Willie and many of us get an email every year on Dee’s birthday telling us to drink a frozen Margarita in Dee’s honor , on the Anniversary of his death. Because Dee invented the frozen Margarita Mix. This year it said “Drink one in memory of Dee and have one for Poodie too!” I can just imagine what those two are up to up there! I swear I can hear them laughing though!

By: Trey Stamps

Trey Stamps — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:55:52 +0000

Turk,

Great review of the Poodie Show! As they were all Poodie Shows, Willie just sang most of the Time! Yes, He was the King of the Road! We are all still missing him, and I hope that never ends. Long Live the Poodie Legend! The golf course, the road, the stage. \No Bad Days\

Trey Stamps