Roy Exum: ‘Hot Rod’ Is Set Free!

  • Saturday, May 7, 2016
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Since President Obama has been in the White House, I have written him three impassioned letters on behalf of my lifelong friend, “Hot Rod” Talley. On Thursday he answered in an indirect but still sensational way when he included John Herbert Talley, a graduate of The Howard School, among 58 federal convicts who will receive clemency on Sept.
2
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John, who got the name “Hot Rod” when he took the fenders off his bicycle to make it go faster, is to this very day one of the most lovable characters ever on Lookout Mountain. After he graduated from flipping burgers at the top of the Incline and Sam Robinson’s Lookout Mountain Pharmacy – oh, those Cherry Smashes at the soda fountain were so fine – he was quickly hired by Bob Beasley at Budweiser and the world was his oyster.
But a mixture of greed and stupidity caused ‘Hot Rob’ to fall in with some cocaine merchants. When he got caught he immediately fessed up and there were about 100 of us ready to serve as character witnesses. But because of the way things were back in 1995, he was pinned by a grossly unfair yet mandatory life sentence.
John Herbert Talley, today somewhere around 70 years old give or take a few, has spent more time in prison than some murderers, rapists, child molesters and all manner of filth. The feds nailed him on a curious ‘three strike’ rule – which would never pass a jury today. “Hot Rod” never hurt anybody in his life, save the tours in Viet Nam when he hung out the door of a helicopter with his machine gun, laying down cover so wounded men could be saved.
Betty York Hedrick, who grew up with John and worked with him for Mr. Beasley, has been a tireless advocate for his release, along with George McGee and others. I even wrote an open letter to Mr. President on March 30, 2011, and am just thrilled that, whatever it was, finally did the trick this week.
Granted, I believe anybody dealing in any kind of drugs should serve time and that cocaine has wrecked some promising lives. But the President knows the life sentences handed down in the ‘90s were far too harsh to fit the crime. Many judges lamented the mandatory life sentences, which is why they were eventually changed. Yet men still languish in our prisons and, to Obama’s credit, he is taking a hard look at non-violent offenders.
In an essay the President wrote on the ‘medium’ website, he explained “I’ve been working to bring about a more effective approach to our criminal justice system, particularly when it comes to drug crimes. Part of that effort has been to reinvigorate our commutations process, and highlight the individuals  … who are doing extraordinary things with their second chances. To date, I will have commuted 306 individual sentences, which is more than the previous six presidents combined.
“While I will continue to review clemency applications, only Congress can bring about the lasting changes we need to federal sentencing. That is why I am encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in Congress to reform federal sentencing laws, particularly on overly harsh mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
Obama added, “It just doesn’t make sense to require a non-violent drug offender to serve 20 years, or in some cases, life, in prison. An excessive punishment like that doesn’t fit the crime. It’s not serving taxpayers, and it’s not making us safer.”
I completely agree, especially in the case of “Hot Rod.” Last I heard he was on a walker, his back is so bad, and while his Christmas card this year was encouraging, I know he’s struggled with lung cancer. According to news reports, “Hot Rod” will be released from federal custody on Sept. 3. By yesterday afternoon a bunch of us had already started planning his coming-home party.
There is a very real and dramatic reason for that. We grew up before integration and “Hot Rod” wasn’t black any more than the rest of us were “white.” We were all pals. It was that simple and when my man ‘Rod comes home in early September, that’s the way it will always be.
On behalf of all us fellows, thank you so very much, President Obama.
"Hot Rod" Talley
"Hot Rod" Talley
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