Pensacola, Florida — At the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, one customer was a fixture. For lunch he always ordered a cup of gumbo, light on the rice and hold the cracker. Then he’d repeat the same order for dinner. Charlie Hicks, 78, kept that standing order twice a day for 10 years.
Chef Donell Stallworth said you could set your clock by Hicks. “Mr. Hicks don’t miss no days,” Stallworth told CBS News. “We open the doors up, Mr. Hicks is there to greet us.”
That routine ended in September when Hicks suddenly didn’t show up for several days. Worried, Stallworth left work mid-shift and drove to Hicks’ apartment. He knocked and got no answer. As he was about to leave he heard a voice calling, “Help.” Stallworth opened the door and found Hicks lying on the floor.
It was unclear how long Hicks had been there. He was severely dehydrated and had two broken ribs. Stallworth’s quick action got him help and likely saved his life.
The Shrimp Basket staff rallied around him. They brought his gumbo to the hospital, helped him secure a new apartment next to the restaurant so employees could watch out for him, and even provided new appliances and fixed up the place.
Three months after the incident, Hicks returned to the Shrimp Basket and resumed his routine. “I’m glad to have you back buddy,” Stallworth told him as Hicks took his usual table and ordered his favorite dish. Hicks reflected on the bond he’d formed: “We made a connection.”
Stallworth said having Hicks living next door “is the best thing going.” “He’s that uncle,” Stallworth said. “He’s that grandfather. He’s that best friend. He’s all in one.”