A Conversation at the Brightwood Tavern, 2009
Bob Gambell Tells It Like It Was, Preserved in His Own Words
In 2009, I sat down for an interview with Bob Gambell at the Brightwood Tavern. Bob was a longtime resident of our mountain community, and he had lived a full, eventful life. In this interview with Bob Gambell we talked about the businesses he bought and sold, the changes he’d seen in Brightwood, and his late wife Lenna, who had passed away just a few years earlier.
What I didn’t know at the time was that Bob would be diagnosed with bone cancer the very next day. He passed not long after. This conversation turned out to be one of his last public reflections.
The recording captures Bob’s voice, his humor, and his memories — just as he shared them that afternoon. It’s raw, real, and deeply personal. For those who knew Bob, or those who want to understand the people who shaped this place, this interview is a rare piece of local history.
Please note: Bob speaks plainly and shares a few comments that might not sound politically correct today. But that was Bob. He had no filter, but he had a good heart. I’m grateful I knew him.