This guy, James Rebel O'Leary, was from my hometown of York, PA. I remember him riding around town in his red Dodge van, with a rebel flag painted on it. "Country Music Legend" was painted on it. You'd see him and his family around town all the time.
Sadly, he passed away in -- I believe -- 2006. He was eccentric, to be sure, but I had occasion to see him in his dealings and he was a kind, compassionate man.