Gary Pepper


Gary Pepper ran the International Elvis Tankers EPFC for Elvis in Memphis from 1959 to 1963. His club was named for Elvis' Army battalion. Gary was there when Elvis returned from the Army and he was also invited to Elvis and Priscilla's wedding reception at Graceland in late May 1967. Gary often went to the theater parties Elvis threw in the 60s. For the fan club, Gary's Mother actually wrote all the correspondence, though Gary dictated his answers. Gary was a cerebral palsy victim and was on Elvis' payroll. Gary's Father, Sterling Pepper, was a security guard at Graceland.

By the time I got around to joining Gary's fan club he decided to close it (it figures!). On July 1, 1963 Gary closed his fan club due to rising costs (printing and postage). The club had gotten too large for the Pepper's to handle. By 1963 the club had a membership over 3,000 fans. Gary often sent out photos that he had taken of Elvis. One of the photos I received from Gary was a snap shot of Lisa at the ripe old age of 10 days with her Mommy and Daddy taken inside Graceland. We fans were sooo excited to get this photo!

Fans who were members of his club and visited Memphis in those days were usually invited to attend theater parties with Gary and Elvis. In 1960 Gary was a regular columnist, along with Lou Hohn, for Elvis Monthly in England. He would report on Elvis' comings and goings around Memphis. It was fabulous getting eye witness accounts on Elvis! Elvis had Vernon send $400 a month to Gary for many years as a thank you for his help and loyalty. But two months after Elvis' death in 1977, Vernon ceased the payments to Gary.

Gary and his nurse later moved to California and on March 29, 1980 Gary died in Alameda Hospital in Long Beach, California. Gary was 48 years old and had moved to Long Beach in 1978. Gary left his Mother, Mrs. Nell Pepper and a cousin, John Tate, who was also his guardian.

Habe ich jetzt erst gesehen, liebe Marie, danke für den Beitrag.

Das ist doch Gary Pepper, oder?





Just before Christmas of 1964.

Marty had let Elvis know that Gary needed a new wheelchair, and this trip was made to deliver the chair as a Christmas present.
We knocked on the front door but got no answer. Elvis peeked through a window and then quickly walked into the home. The scene that greeted us when we stepped in behind Elvis was, to my eyes, nightmarish.
Gary was crawling across the floor of the small living room. His father wasn't around, but his mother was, and she seemed to be completely out of it - in an trancelike state. Elvis immediately went right for Gary, got his arms around him and helped get him up and comfortable. Elvis talked to him quietly and let him know it was OK.
J.Schilling

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*The genius of Elvis Presley was in his music, but the magic was in his voice*

...war wirklich ein guter mann diesr Elvis !! ..danke für diesen schönen beitrag MARIE !!

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__Elvis - Artist Of The Century__