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Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:57 AM 'Cooter' will sign books in Wilson Thursday Talking to Ben Jones is like interviewing four or five people at one time. Jones, who is best remembered for his role as "Cooter" in the hit television show "The Dukes of Hazzard," has led an life more interesting and diverse than many television series. He has written about those experiences in his book, "Redneck Boy in the Promised Land," and will be at Wilson's Books-A-Million Thursday at noon to read excerpts and autograph copies. "This book is the story of my struggle with myself," he said during a phone interview from his Sperryville, Va., home. "It's about hope and redemption and not just about falling down but about getting back up again." Jones was born in Tarboro but says he was "deported from North Carolina" when he was just 3 weeks old. He grew up in a section house in Newport News, Va., that literally sat on the docks in a freight yard where he father worked for the railroad. His house had no electricity and no plumbing. "My first memories were of the latter part of World War II and living in a war zone," he said. "There were fighter planes overhead, troop trains, German submarines off the coast, Navy blimps and the biggest Navy ships in the world. By the time he was 16, Jones was an alcoholic. He attended what was then known at East Carolina College (now East Carolina University) for a short time and then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures. "I always wanted to be a writer, and that's why I went to UNC," Jones said. "The most important experiences of my life came from being in school in Chapel Hill." Jones became an ardent supporter of civil rights and was jailed and threatened for his support of integration in the South during the 1960s. "Being arrested during those civil rights sit-ins were the only times I went to jail sober," Jones joked. But his alcoholism was no joking matter. He had three failed marriages, numerous affairs and was involved in various barroom scuffles and arrested more than 20 times on alcohol related charges, all before he turned 36 years old. In 1977, Jones nearly died. "I woke up under a wicker couch on a filthy floor in Atlanta after a five-week drunk," said Jones. "I just knew I was dying. I couldn't breathe." But Jones survived and realized what he'd done to his life and the lives of those around him. "When you're an alcoholic, there are victims strewn everywhere, including yourself," he said. A New Life Within a year of turning his life around, he was cast on "The Dukes of Hazzard," which ran from 1979 to 1985, and his life would never be the same. Cooter was the Hazzard County mechanic and owned Cooter's Garage. Cooter was considered an "honorary Duke" by characters Bo and Luke Duke and shared their same wholesome values. "I embraced that character then as I do now," Jones said. "And I respect and embrace my own Southern heritage." Exactly 30 years ago, in the fall of 1978, production began on the pilot and first five episodes of "The Dukes of Hazzard." "If you'd have said back then that in 30 years there would be something called DVDs and people would still be out there watching "The Dukes of Hazzard," I'd have said you were crazy," Jones said, laughing. Jones said the greatest compliment he has been given is when people tell him they watched the show as a child and now watch the show with their own children. "I don't believe there is one show on television or cable now where the entire family -- from grandparents to kids -- can sit down together and watch it," Jones said. "'The Dukes of Hazzard' is timeless, and it will be around long after we're all gone." A history with Wilson This isn't the first time that Jones has visited Wilson. Just after "The Dukes of Hazzard' came out, the actors involved in the show started to make personal appearances around the country, and Wilson was the location of Jones' first big appearance as Cooter. "It was around Christmas, and I had never seen so many people in my life," Jones recalled. "Wilson was 'Dukes of Hazzard' country, and I remember that they loved the show so much!" While Jones still sings the praises of the television show, he was not at all enamored with the "Dukes of Hazzard" movie that was released in 2005 and made a plea for the public to boycott it. "We all read the script, and we didn't want anything to do with it, and they didn't want anything to do with us," Jones said, referring to the original television cast and new movie producers. "The movie didn't reflect the sensibilities and values of our show. In fact, it didn't represent our show at all." "Our characters always made the right choices, no matter what," Jones continued. "That's why they were heros." Jones said the movie version was a profane "hoochy coochy" show featuring foul-mouthed characters and felt that a movie like that should not have been sold to children. "People came up to me afterward and thanked me for coming out against the movie," Jones said. "Others said they wished they'd heard what I had said as they had to cover their children's eyes during the movie." Congressman Jones Jones' interest in politics began when he was a student in Chapel Hill and was constantly working on causes. But when his career in Hollywood took off, he put those political interests to the side. "After the show ended, people told me that I should run for Congress," Jones said, "and I told them 'I've got more bones in my closet than the Smithsonian!' But I was honest from the beginning, and I think people respected the fact that I'd been sober for so many years." Jones ran against incumbent Rep. Pat Swindall of Georgia in 1988 and won that seat. He was re-elected in 1990 but was defeated in 1992. "I knew I couldn't change the world," Jones said, "but I could do what I could for some people while in Congress." Jones sees Washington as having changed a lot since he left in 1992. "The tail is wagging the dog," he said. "The government is top-heavy with special interests and is more money-driven now than it was when I was there." But Jones looks toward the country's political future with optimism these days. "I think the recent election was a tonic of sorts," he said. "I'm very optimistic, and I think the optimism in this country is palpable now." Wilson appearance Jones chooses to travel the country with his wife, Alma, in his diesel truck instead of flying. "Flying is too impersonal these days. I feel like I'm in a cattle car." He'll be at Wilson's Books-A Million on Forest Hills Road starting at noon Thursday. His book lists for $23.95. He will also visit Nashville's Cooley Library from 6-8 p.m. that same evening. "Redneck Boy in the Promised Land" was published in June of this year and is now in its second printing. ON THE MAP runs on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. If you have a story that you want to share, e-mail jclevinger@wilsontimes.com or call 265-7811. If you have an event that you would like to enter on our community calendar, go to www.wilsontimes.com and click on the link for submitting information to the calendar. |
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friend said...
Just wondering when to expect the new article on Ben "Cooter" Jones. I know a photographer & a reporter were there covering the story. There are probably about 50 people interested in getting the paper that has the new story. I know several e-mails have been sent asking when to expect an article or pictures & only 1 response to those e-mails. Please let the public know!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 8:57 AM
friend said...Just wondering when to expect the new article on Ben "Cooter" Jones. I know a photographer & a reporter were there covering the story. There are probably about 50 people interested in getting the paper that has the new story. I know several e-mails have been sent asking when to expect an article or pictures & only 1 response to those e-mails. Please let the public know!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 8:57 AM
A replica of the General Lee will be at Books A Million, so bring your camera!
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 7:16 AM
