Acuff Kept Tight Rein On Estate

Country music legend Roy Acuff, long known for watching his dollars, kept a tight rein on his fortune even after his death.

Under Acuff's will:

-- His children won't touch a penny of his money, estimated at several million dollars. They can only draw the interest.

-- His grandchildren eventually inherit the cash - but not until they're at least 35 years old.

-- And one grandson, with a cocaine conviction, won't share in the principal at all.

Acuff's will, filed last week in Probate Court, divided his cars, clothing and household effects equally between his two children, Roy Neill Acuff and Thelma Gosset.

The rest of his estate went into a trust - two-thirds for his son and one-third for his daughter. They will receive income from the trust, but none of the principal.

After the children die, Acuff's five grandchildren will get the income from the trust and will receive their share of the principal after they reach 35.

The will makes an exception for one grandson, Roy Neill Acuff Jr., 29, who was convicted in U.S. District Court in 1990 of conspiring to distribute cocaine. He will receive income from the trust, but none of the principal.

Roy Acuff, who died Nov. 23, named his longtime lawyer, Richard H. Frank Jr., and Opryland USA President E.W. "Bud" Wendell as his trustees and executors.

Frank refused to estimate the value of Acuff's estate.