I will be writing about this famous lawman, his family, his enemies, and the stories that shaped McNairy County, Tennessee. For a giant of a man 6 ft 6 in tall 250 lb that would not have affected him very much. OnAugust 20th, 1974, Buford Pusser and his daughter Dwana went to the McNairy County Fair. Buford Pusser was sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, and was portrayed in the 1973 movie Walking Tall., The festivals website says Pusser was elected McNairy County Sheriff in 1964 and that he was shot eight times, knifed seven times and destroyed 87 whiskey stills in 1965 alone.. Either way, I find it hard to believe that Sheriff Pusser went 2,400 miles to kill a mob hitman and no one noticed him missing. . Recommended: Just how well do you really know the story behind the Declaration of Independence? We tell the story of the famous Buford Pusser. Hollywood loves to spin tails, and this one is no exception. The first "Walking Tall" movie about his life was made before his death. Its about a father who was an ex-alcoholic turned into a gambling addict. Pusser was the subject of three biographical books written by W.R. Morris: The Twelfth of August: The Story of Buford Pusser (1971), Buford: True Story of "Walking Tall" Sheriff Buford Pusser (1984), and The State Line Mob: A True Story of Murder and Intrigue (1990). The legendary lawmen Buford Pusser was killed in a fiery crash on August 21st, 1974. [19] Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers told the story of Pusser's battle with organized crime in the songs "The Boys from Alabama", "Cottonseed", and "The Buford Stick" from their 2004 album The Dirty South. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? During his six years in office, Pusser, known for carrying a big hickory stick he used as a weapon, fought a gang of bootleggers and con men who were operating along the Mississippi-Tennessee state line. Are you a Pontotoc Progress subscriber? As a result, Nix will serve the remainder of his life in isolation. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America PHOTO COURTSEY OF ROADSIDEAMERICA.COM The potential viewership currently sits at 500,000! He knew more than anyone because he and Buford were very close and he often went on calls with him. Many people believed Pusser himself hired the assassin to kill him, though the rumors were never confirmed. I doubt it. Shock and sadness gripped Mullis and Pusser family members in the museum Thursday morning. His precious boy would return home, but six weeks later, he would be silenced forever. Dwana died Wednesday night. That evening, returning home alone from the McNairy County Fair in his specially modified Corvette, Pusser struck an embankment at high speed that ejected him from the vehicle. This was the argument many people claimed proved poison theory. There names were ruined by the man. Allegedly, this is where they found the dark-colored Cadillac as well. His death resulted from the crash of his Corvette on Highway 64 near Adamsville. Buffet, who had been drinking, could not find his rental car and decided to climb up on a Cadillac for a better view. Pusser continues, "It's a story to them. Everyone was quick to point out that it had nothing to do with the Pusser investigation. Buford Pusser was sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, and was portrayed in the 1973 movie "Walking Tall." . Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. His tireless work for three years to rid Tennessee of its notorious crime rings won him the gratitude of the beleaguered locals. Then read about Frank Lucas, the real American Gangster. In 1969 the Tennessee General Assembly recognized Pusser for his accomplishments and made him an honorary sergeant of arms. Was Buford Pusser murdered? Buford's son, Mike, was an adult when Buford died. Dwana Pusser now defends her father's legacy. Click "Open Resource Packs Folder". In 1964, he was elected sheriff after the former position holder was killed in a car accident. Buford Pusser shortly before his death, in the car in which he had his accident. Together we can solve some of these cases. Sad, but interesting. Shed just recently found it and brought it that day.. It took a few miles to catch up to the Corvette, but by then it was too late. Weekly recaps during Mississippi's annual legislative session, plus breaking alerts and weekly updates throughout the year, from our state politics team. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Because of that legacy hed left, law enforcement was something that was really important to her, Mullis said. While in Chicago, Pusser met his future wife, Pauline. What did he do and who killed Sheriff Bufords wife, Pauline Pusser? Did Buford Pusser have a black deputy? Pusser returned home in 1962. It is said Gagliardi could be tied to up to fifty different mafia hits in and around Boston. Although everyone in town knew he had a price on his head, the case was closed quickly and the records were sealed by court order. Even Pusser's own death in 1974 is controversial. Many assumed that the hit was an assassination attempt aimed at Buford Pusser and that his wife had been an unintended casualty. Nix was later sentenced to isolation for the rest of his life. Dwana, who was a passenger in another car, came upon the scene of the accident moments later. 2017-2019. Hollywood loves the tale of a vigilante seeking justice, but the facts dont line up with Walking Tall., This story has been re-published from Synova Ink with permission. Pusser died in a car wreck on August 21, 1974. Rumor had it the brake lines had been cut on his car but if this was the case why were there 545 feet of skid marks left down the highway? The guilt that Pusser felt over his wifes death was insurmountable and drove him to cold-blooded revenge. How many times did Buford Pusser get shot? The last man on Bufords list wasKirksey Nix, Jr. Legend says he voluntarily went to prison to avoid the sheriff. Buford seems to have treated Diane like the step daughter she was. What happened to Sheriff Buford Pusser? [15] Earlier that day, he contracted with Bing Crosby Productions in Memphis to portray himself in the sequel to Walking Tall. Sign up to view our weekly e-editions each Wednesday with just a click. She loved being from here, and after her father died and her mother had already been killed before thatthe town of Adamsville raised her, and she never forgot that.. One investigator who later would be completely discredited claimed to have proof he had been poisoned with a rare South American Indian poison called Cuare. First black Deputy to be hired by Tennesee Sherriff Buford Pusser. They say his body was found riddled with bullets floating in the Boston Harbor in 1969. ). He was re-elected as constable of Adamsville by a majority of voters, who wrote in his name on their ballots. In December of 1959, the two married, and two years later moved back to Pussers childhood home. PLEASE KEEP HER FAMILY IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!! Some reports say the car was already on fire, but others say it started a few minutes later underneath the hood. Unable to re-claim his office of Sheriff, years later (which he blamed on the release of the movie Walking Tall), he was elected as constable by the locals of Adamsville in 1970. Sign up to view our weekly e-editions each Wednesday with just a click. Now left alone to find answers and make sense of the chaos is a brave little southern belle named Phyllis. On Aug. 12, 1967, Sheriff Pusser received a disturbance call on the TN/MS Stateline, which was a setup call. Where did Buford Pusser live when he died? The Dixie Mafia has produced infamous outlaws, bank robbers, and murderers. When you walk through a stormHold your head up highAnd dont be afraidOf the darkAt the end of a stormIs a golden skyAnd the sweet silver songOf a larkWalk on through the windWalk on through the rainThough your dreams be tossedAnd blownWalk on, walk onWith hope in your heartAnd youll never walk aloneYoull neverEver walk aloneWalk on, walk onWith hope in your heartAnd youll never walk aloneYoull neverEver walk alone. Sources suggest more to Buford Pusser death, Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley report to prison, This has been the worst Ive ever been through: 97-year-old woman attacked by granddaughter, drunk, police say. Having spent some time as a wrestler in Chicago, under the name of Buford The Bull. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Pusser blamed the loss to incumbent Sheriff Clifford Coleman in part on the controversy surrounding the making of the semibiographical movie, Walking Tall. The names Carmine Raymond Gagliardi, Gary Elbert McDaniel, and George Albert McGann were also mentioned. Buford Pussers memory continues to live on in, , an annual county fair, the 1973 film, . (LogOut/ "Walking Tall" vividly described Pusser's efforts to clean up McNairy Co. of criminal activities. An announcement on the festivals Facebook page early Thursday stated, We are saddened to share the news that Dwana Pusser passed away. Investigators say Buford Pusser was drunk and driving to fast he wasnt wearing a seat belt and he was ejected from the car no foul play, but no one in the town believed it several stateliners had contracts out on Buford Pusser and this was a well-known fact. The girl in the front seat with him was the estranged wife of the motels owner. Buford Pusser's last days as Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee in 1970 and his subsequent death in 1974. And we knew then that Buford was dead. All information used to create this content is a matter of public record and can be easily found online. What road did Buford Pusser die on? Each week Synova & her team of guest bloggers highlight an obscure cold case. And there were plenty of officers, even younger ones now, who told her they became law enforcement officers because they were inspired from watching the "Walking Tall" movies.. As they drove through the small Tennessee town toward the site of the disturbance, a car pulled up alongside theirs. They would have to take responsibility for killing a legend. drive-by truckers the buford stick - Google Search, Red 1967 Fury III 'Vert 4-Speed "H"-code 383 in M.A. A case which also led to the downfall of corrupt Biloxi Mayor, Pete Halat, who was found to have worked with Nix (who was already behind bars). Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers," the post said. He still refuses to respond to questions about Pauline Pusser. Our top headlines each morning, seven days a week, as well as each weekday afternoon. Buford Pusser was a sheriff, and Pauline his wife was killed. Error! Several years after that, two of the other killers were found shot to death in Texas. However, by 10 oclock that night, some people noticed he began to slur his words a little bit and wondered if he had been drinking. Why? Any participation or alleged involvement of any party mentioned within this site is purely speculation. This may be the first time you have heard the real story from people who were actually there and lived it., people from both the Law Enforcement community as well as from the State Line side of the story. Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com or at 731-425-9751. His wife, Pauline, was shot in the head twice when she and Buford were attacked by assailants in a car in 1967, the museums website says. Hed built a reputation as a sheriff tough on crime and moonshine in McNairy County, without using a gun too often. Create a password that only you will remember. Mississippi Mud: Southern Justice and the Dixie Mafia, Walking On: A Daughter's Journey with Legendary Sheriff Buford Pusser. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. As he returned home with his mangled jaw and no wife, he had only one thing on his mind revenge. The people at the food stand remember him ordering two BBQ sandwiches and a fish sandwich along with two glasses of water.