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Epicurean Kentuckian: The Turtleman, Ernie Brown, Jr. at Jeff's 2012-02-07 - 115 Meader Street, Campbellsville, KY - Photo by Larry Smith. Gravel Switch's Ernie Brown, Jr. the self proclaimed "poorest famous man in America," was fixing up a bowl of Jeff Wright's famous chili at Jeff's, on Meader Avenue, near Campbellsville University, On the right is Barry Bertram, now Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, who was at the renowned eatery with Larry Smith, 99.9 The Big Dawg personality, and Bertram's son, Attorney John Bertram. Smith and "The Turtle Man" Ernie Brown always go for the chili. The Bertrams usually go for lawyer type food, fresh cut sandwiches, but they're not sissies - they alway go for the chili, too, when the mood is right. Smith said that Ernie Brown, Jr. is now filming the second episode of "The Call of the Wildman," for Animal Planet. "He's the genuine article," Smith said, "No matter how famous he gets, he never forgets he's from Gravel Switch, Marion County, Kentucky, and he still remembers to come by The Big Dawg and visit with home folks when he's in Campbellsville." The Turtle Man has appeared on Jay Leno's show twice. The first time Leno gave him $300 in cash and one of his gold watches. Brown promised to keep the watch in a sacred place - in his arrowhead collection. On that first Late Night appearance, Leno learned that the Turtleman bathes in a rain barrel. On the second show, Jay Leno gave him a bath robe. No matter what else is going on, South Central Kentuckians know they're got something big going for them: The Turtleman, Ernie Brown, Jr., and delightful eateries like Jeff's in Campbellsville, KY. Permalink | Comments?

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