WEST MONROE, La. (AP) — Phil Robertson, who turned his small duck calling curiosity within the sportsman’s paradise of northern Louisiana into an enormous enterprise and conservative cultural phenomenon, died Sunday, in accordance with his household. He was 79.
Robertson’s household introduced in December on their Unashamed With the Robertson Household podcast that the patriarch of the clan had Alzheimer’s illness. The assertion on social media from Robertson’s daughter-in-law didn’t point out how he died.
“Thanks for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his daring religion, and by his need to inform everybody who would pay attention the Good Information of Jesus. We’re grateful for his life on earth and can proceed the legacy of affection for God and love for others till we see him once more,” Korie Robertson wrote.
Phil Robertson skyrocketed to fame within the early 2010s when the A&E community created a actuality present, introduced like a sitcom. It adopted the adventures of Robertson, his three sons — together with Willie, who runs the household’s Duck Commander firm, their wives and a number of different relations and pals.
Phil Robertson and his boys have been instantly recognizable by their lengthy beards and their conservative, Christian and family-oriented beliefs.
That acquired Robertson into hassle, too. He advised {a magazine} reporter in 2013 that homosexual individuals are sinners and African Individuals have been completely happy below Jim Crow legal guidelines.
A&E suspended him from “Duck Dynasty” however reversed course in just a few weeks after a backlash that included Sarah Palin.
On the time, Robertson’s household known as his feedback coarse, however mentioned his beliefs have been grounded within the Bible and he “is a Godly man.” In addition they mentioned that “as a household, we can not think about the present going ahead with out our patriarch on the helm.”
A lifelong Louisiana man
Robertson was born in north Louisiana and spent his life within the woods and lakes that make up the area known as Sportsman’s Paradise.
Robertson performed soccer at Louisiana Tech and taught college. He additionally cherished to hunt and created a duck name within the early Seventies that he mentioned replicated the precise sound of a duck.
The calls have been the centerpiece of the Duck Commander enterprise Robertson would develop right into a multimillion-dollar enterprise earlier than A&E got here calling.
The household simply didn’t promote out of doors and searching gear, however a way of life.
“The Robertsons face every thing from beavers to enterprise offers in their very own particular manner — with a twist of downhome practicality and a pointy humorousness,” A&E wrote in its promotion for “Duck Dynasty.”
Tributes pour in
Appreciations for Robertson appeared on social media shortly after this dying was introduced, largely from conservative politicians.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X, “The good #PhilRobertson handed immediately. He cherished Jesus & he was completely fearless. One in every of my fondest recollections was duck searching with Phil — he was the perfect shot I ever met. And, in 2016, he recorded this superb industrial for me. Relaxation in peace, my buddy.”
“Saddened to listen to of the passing of Phil Robertson — a person of deep religion, daring conviction, and unwavering love for his household,” wrote Ben Carson, former Housing and City Growth Secretary, additionally on X. “I’ll always remember the time I spent with Phil and his fantastic household at their homestead in West Monroe, LA. We rode by way of the swamp stopping at his favourite duck blinds earlier than being welcomed by Miss Kay with a heat, home-cooked meal, surrounded by their prolonged household and shut pals.”
A&E shared their very own tribute to the “Duck Dynasty” X account, writing: “We’re saddened to listen to of the passing of Phil Robertson, a searching business pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson household. Our ideas are with them throughout this troublesome time. We prolong our deepest condolences and respect their privateness as they grieve.”
