Jim Nabors was a real humanitarian.

[trof]

From Scott Hunter, an Alabama quarterback in the 60s who knew Nabors.

"Told me he had bought the syndicated broadcast rights for almost nothing when the Gomer Pyle series ended. He told me he was making far more money on the syndication rights than he made starring in the show for 5 years.

Also told me he found out in the early 70's the show's Sgt Carter character (Frank Sutton) was destitute and living in a retired actor's home in LA. (Nabors) found him and assigned him 5 percent of the show's rights and revenues for the rest of his life.

Jim Nabors was a great Alabamian, University of Alabama graduate, and American...I'm proud to have known him. God Bless you and Rest in Peace Jim...and ROLL TIDE!"

[Lucinda]

1. KNR

[Laffy Kat]

2. He had a beautiful voice.

It must have been in the early-sixties, my little girlfriend's mother took both of us girls to see him in concert in Memphis. I think it was at the Mid-South Coliseum. We had front-row seats, could see the color of his eyes, and I was spell-bound by his voice. Gosh, I think we were six or seven.
RIP

[ret5hd]

3. I hope that story is true.

Sometimes we need things to see things like that to keep our faith in humanity.

[trof]

4. Here's link to whole story:

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/about_the_time_bear_bryant_sen.html#incart_river_home_pop

[ret5hd]

5. Some people are just...nice. Almost without effort.

I, unfortunately, am not one of those people. I strive. Sometimes. It seems he was one of those that did it almost effortlessly.

[sl8]

7. It does seem odd that Sutton would have been living in an actors' retirement home in the early 70s.

He would have been in his 40s and was still working as an actor until his death in 1974.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840308/

[Docreed2003]

8. Plus, according to Wikipedia...

He continued to work with Nabors after Gomer Pyle and was preparing for an acting role in a play in Shreveport LA when he died at the age of 50.

[Auggie]

12. Only a few parts though. Unless he did theater,

or had a stage / stand-up act, I could understand how he could be so broke. Nice gesture by Nabors. He and Sutton worked well together.

[sl8]

14. Sure. I've no idea what his financial situation was.

It just struck me as odd that someone so young, and working, and travelling, would be living in a a retirement home.

It's possible, I suppose.

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. Makes sense if beset with health problems.

Sounds like that may have been the case. We think of retirement community in a different way. Some are based on age, and others on circumstances.

[madinmaryland]

13. He was 50 when he died. Very young even for 1974....

Either cancer or heart attack/stroke. I'm leaning towards a long term illness.

RIP, Mr. Sutton.

[DrDan]

6. a southerner . . . imagine that . . .

[Kaleva]

9. I don't think this is true.

It appears that Frank was working steady till the day he died.

[Honeycombe8]

11. That's what Wiki says, so.... It's a good story. Wish it were true.

I bet Nabors would've done it, too. He was really rich. He owned a pineapple farm in Hawaii and other business interests, I think.

[Honeycombe8]

10. What a good man. May he rest in peace in whatever his idea of Heaven is. nt