The last time Jack Jessee was back in Carroll County, he said certainly didn’t get this type of reception.

Jessee, a Woodlawn native and 1990 graduate of Carroll County High School, is known worldwide thanks to his participation on The History Channel’s “Ice Road Truckers.” He visited the area and signed autographs at Grover King VFW Post 1115 on Friday afternoon.

Throughout the evening, fans and friends who hadn’t seen Jessee in years asked questions about driving a truck in such treacherous conditions and recalled shared memories from growing up, working with Jessee’s parents, or where their family trees’ branches intersect.

Jessee said he slipped in quietly last August after the filming of the third season of Ice Road Truckers — his first season on the show — when his sister got married in Boone, N.C. This time was a little different.

Jessee said he honestly had no idea what to expect upon returning to the area for the first time since becoming well known.

“I was a little nervous. I didn’t know how many would show up,” he said. “It could be five, it could be 500. Do I have enough of this? Do I have way too much? I’ve done things for Carlisle (Transportation Systems) but this is the first I’ve ever done on my own.”

Jessee has driven the ice roads for years and said in the winter, they go farther out. He said one day, the History Channel representatives pitched the show to him and he was definitely interested.

“They showed up in November two years ago and did some test shots and liked my mug, I guess,” Jessee said. “They asked if I wanted to be on it and I said if the owners don’t care.”

And with the filming of the show, Jessee said he had to get used to a little additional company on the road — something he doesn’t ordinarily have to deal with while driving.

“I had a guy in the truck with me for three months; camera crews and pickups running around. That was different,” Jessee said. “Most of the time, I get in the truck and I’m by myself. I drive up and drive back.”