A great buddy of mine was a deputy down in, I think, West Palm Beach where Burt Reynolds had his estate/ranch/home. Said he was the most pro-police person he had ever met. Every year, he had BBQ's and events for all the local officers. If they were on the street or doing traffic, he'd be out there with water, lunch or just a kind word. He sent their kids Christmas cards and presents. He gave out scholarships. Never, ever, too busy to give a kind word to the guys who worked a beat anywhere he went...
His support for veterans, too, was amazing. And during the post-Vietnam period when your average Hollywood douche-nozzle was loving on the NVA.. Burt Reynolds was for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. Long before it was trendy.
A great American... on so many levels. Smokey and the Bandit is a classic, no matter what the art-fags say. And Burt Reynolds is the kind of American we should all aspire to be. He never for got the people who made it possible for him to be a hell of a funny actor!
RIP Bandit. Someday I hope to be as good a citizen as you were!
Sirhr