A Florida diner whose life was likely saved after restaurant staff noticed he had missed his usual gumbo order now has a dish named in his honor.
Charlie Hicks has spent more than 10 years as a familiar face at Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, Florida. Employees had grown used to seeing him twice a day, stopping in for both lunch and dinner.
The 78-year-old is known for sticking to the same choice each time: gumbo with only a small amount of rice, and no cracker.
That routine was disrupted in September 2025 when Charlie stopped coming in for several days. Concerned by the unusual absence, chef Donell Stallworth decided to check on him personally by going to his apartment.
After knocking and getting no response, Donell was about to leave when he heard something from inside.
“Right when I was going to turn [away], I heard something, a voice, just like, ‘Help,'” Donell told CBS News. “And then I opened the door up. He was lying on the ground, and I didn’t know what his condition was; that was the scariest part right there.”
Charlie had suffered two broken ribs and severe dehydration, with reports suggesting he had been stuck on the floor for days before he was found.
Since then, he has moved into a new apartment only a short distance from the restaurant, making his regular gumbo trips much easier. Shrimp Basket staff also helped him settle into the new place, and gave him a walker they had signed for him.
Months after the incident, CBS News reported that Charlie was doing well and still recovering.
His story drew widespread attention, and people from around the country have stopped by Shrimp Basket to meet him and snap selfies. The chain also announced that Hicks would get free gumbo for life, and offered free gumbo with any purchase on Mondays in his honor.
The restaurant has also honored him by changing the menu name from gumbo to ‘Charlie’s Gumbo’. A lit walking path has even been added between his apartment and Shrimp Basket so he can reach the restaurant more easily.
While he was recovering in hospital from his rib injuries, Shrimp Basket workers made sure he still got his favorite meal by bringing gumbo directly to him.
Donnell later said he was thrilled to welcome his friend back when Charlie returned to the restaurant in December.
The experience appears to have brought the two even closer.
“We made a connection,” Charlie told CBS News. “We made a connection.”
“He’s that uncle. He’s that grandfather. He’s that best friend,” Donnell added. “He’s all in one.”
Charlie’s niece, Christina Neeper, also said the chef’s actions made all the difference.
“[Charlie] said that Donell had saved his life. And I’m pretty sure that Donell and [the Shrimp Basket staff] saved his life,” she said.
“Donell has been texting him and visiting him. Apparently, they’re best friends.”
It is clear Charlie has become a big part of daily life at the restaurant.
“Mr. Hicks don’t miss no days,” Donnell previously told CBS News. “We open the doors up, Mr. Hicks is there to greet us.”