HazzardNet, Author at HazzardNet

Remembering Rick Hurst: A Kind Soul and Hazzard Legend

January 1, 1946 – June 25, 2025

It is with great sadness that we at HazzardNet mark the passing of Rick Hurst, best known to Dukes of Hazzard fans as the lovable and bumbling Deputy Cletus Hogg. He passed away on June 26, 2025, at the age of 79.

Rick brought heart, humor, and humanity to the role of Cletus, making him a fan favorite across generations. But beyond the screen, Rick was every bit as warm and genuine as the character he played. He wasn’t just an actor we admired—he was a man we were lucky to meet in person.

I had the honor of meeting Rick on the set of the first Dukes of Hazzard reunion movie and again on the set of the second. Over the years, I also had the pleasure of speaking with him at several fan events. Each time, he greeted me with a big smile and an open heart. We shared wonderful conversations, and I always walked away feeling like I’d just caught up with an old friend.

Rick had a special way of making fans feel seen and appreciated. He loved being part of the Dukes family and was deeply grateful for the fans who kept its spirit alive. Whether on a convention stage or just chatting in the autograph line, he gave his full attention, always ready with a story or a laugh.

His passing is a loss to the Dukes of Hazzard community and to all who knew him. But his kindness, his talent, and the joy he brought to so many lives will never be forgotten.

Rest easy, Rick. Hazzard County won’t be the same without you.

Christmas at Cooter’s 2021

Saturday, December 18th, and Sunday, December 19th, join Ben Jones (Cooter) and Tom Wopat at Cooter’s Nashville for “Christmas at Cooter’s”. There will be a meet and greet with Tom both days. On Saturday, there will be a VIP Meet and Greet with snacks and drinks, plus a Christmas concert at the Nashville Palace with Tom, his band, and Whey Jennings.

Tom Wopat Meet and Greet Hours

Saturday December 18th
11AM – 2PM
Sunday December 19th
11AM – 3PM

VIP Meet and Greet and Christmas Concert

Saturday December 18th
DRINKS & SNACKS
The Nashville Palace
6PM – 7:30PM

Visit CootersPlace.com for more information.

Visit Cooter’s Good Ol’ Boy Fest!

August 10th and 11th, 2019, you can meet the cast of The Dukes of Hazzard, watch live stunt shows, and listen to live music at Shenandoah Speedway in Virginia.

Cooter’s getting the gang back together. Rick Hurst (Cletus), Sonny Shroyer (Enos), Tom Wopat (Luke), Cathy Bach (Daisy), and, of course, Ben Jones (Ol’ Cooter himself) will be there to meet fans, sign autographs, and take photos.

Legendary country and rock artists will be there to entertain, including: Wynona & the Big Noise, Exile, Confederate Railroad, Billy Dean, Tom Wopat, Whey Jennings, Catherine Bach, and Cooter’s Garage Band.

And last, but not least, James A. Smith and The Northeast Ohio Dukes will be there to put on a spectacular live stunt car show for the fans. Don’t miss it! See CootersPlace.com for more details.

Cooter’s Country Christmas Shenandoah Jamboree

The holidays will soon be upon us. In less than a month, December 2nd to be exact, ol’ Cooter will be celebrating with a good old-fashioned jamboree! The fun starts at 7pm at the Cooter’s Place in Luray, VA. Daisy Duke herself, Catherine Bach will be there too!

Speaking of Cathy, she’ll be at Cooter’s earlier in the day, December 2nd, and again on December 3rd to sign autographs and take photos with fans.

To buy tickets or find more information, visit Ben Jones’ website.

Cooter’s Last Stand in Luray, VA – July 29-30, 2017

Mark your calendars, Dukes of Hazzard fans! This July 29-30, Ben and Miss Alma will be hosting “Cooter’s Last Stand”, a celebration of the Dukes of Hazzard. It will possibly be the last great gathering of the entire Dukes of Hazzard cast. If any of you have been to DukesFest or any of the events that Ben and Miss Alma put on, you know this will be a first rate shindig. If you’ve never been to one of their events, you should try to make it to this one. You won’t regret it. “Cooter’s Last Stand” will feature two days of great music, cast autograph sessions, car shows, some good ol’ “rassling”, plenty of kid’s activities. There will even be fireworks, a car stunt show, and a Civil War battle re-enactment.