Both me and my Wife had a History Teacher who taught those guys. LOL He said they were not much into hair cuts by High School but generally not a problem in his class. Till 2002, I lived a half mile from where the Van Zants grew up. I know where the small bar is that was the inspiration for "Gimme Three Steps" and the road that had the 'Oak tree you're in my way".
About a year after I left the USAF, Donnie Van Zant's ex Wife bought my Dad's house, close to Green Cove Springs. (Green Cove was also the place of the Skynyrd "Hell House" for playing/ rehearsing. Anyway......While Donnie's ex was looking at my Dad's house, the Van Zant's Dad, Lacy, was there to help her out. That old guy was VERY VERY cool to chat with. He said there was no bad blood at all with his Son and his soon to be ex and he was helping her out. Obviously a nice old fella. He chatted with me for about 30-45 minutes, as if we had been old friends. Lacy passed a few years later and is buried next to Ronnie....about 20 yards from where my Wife's Mom is buried. Ronnie WAS in another cemetery till about 15-20 years ago when IDIOTS tried to rob the grave.
There's a LOT of truth when those fellas are called JACKSONVILLE'S own.
