Joined US Marines (1956) after finishing high school where he was a football and basketball star. He received a medical discharge due to asthma. He then moved on to Chicago where he got into wrestling, and was known as ‘Buford the Bull’. He met and married (1959) Pauline who was from West Virginia. Buford and Pauline had one daughter, Dwana, who now runs the Buford Pusser Museum. Pauline previously had 2 children, Mike and Diane

Buford’s father was Chief of Police in Adamsville, Tennessee, and Buford served as an Officer (1961) then Police Chief of Adamsville, Tenn. (1962)

Buford was elected Sheriff of McNairy County in 1964, he served three consecutive terms as Sheriff until 1970 fighting illegal alcohol, gambling, prostitution, and corruption. Buford was shot eight times, and knifed seven times during his career.

Selmer is County seat of McNairy County, and Sheriffs Office is in the Court House. Remember in the movie where the judge gives Buford such a hard time that Buford finds an old law that authorizes him to designate the Judges chambers and he moves the Judge  to the bathroom in the basement of the Court House.

Buford received a phone call at 0430 hrs on 12 August 1967. The caller reported a drunken disturbance on New Hope Road. Buford was driving a Plymouth, and Pauline had also went with him. A black Cadillac pulled up along side the Plymouth and opened fire then drove off. It reappeared shortly after and opened fire a second time.

Wife Pauline was shot twice and killed, Buford was shot in the face and jaw. Buford remained as Sheriff until 1970.

Buford upgraded his Plymouth to an Oldsmobile Toronado, his 12 gauge shotgun to an M-16 carbine, and .41 calibre magnum to a .357 magnum

On 21 August 1974 Buford Pusser while driving his Corvette died in car crash four miles west of Adamsville on Hwy 64

Buford and Pauline are buried in the cemetery in the western park of the Town of Adamsville, Tennessee

Movies:

#1 – starred Joe Don Baker – Walking Tall (1973)

#2 – starred Bo Svenson – Walking Tall, Part II (1975)

#3 – starred Bo Svenson – Walking Tall, The Final Chapter (1977)

#4 – starred Brian Dennehy – A Real American Hero – TV Movie (1978)

#5 – starred Bo Svenson - Walking Tall - TV Series (1981)

#6 – starred Johnny Knoxville (The Rock) - Remake of Walking Tall (2004)

Museum:

Buford Pusser Home & Museum – 342 Pusser Street – Adamsville, Tennessee 38310 – Phone: (901) 632-4080

Annual Festival:

Buford Pusser Festival – Wed 25 May – Sat 28 May, 2005, held over the American Memorial Day Weekend – 
Adamsville, Tennessee – Phone: (731) 632-1199, Email: pusser@charter.net

Other:

Carbo’s Smoky Mountain Police Museum – has a wall filled with Buford Pusser memorabilia and has the burned Corvette in a glassed display – 
US Hwy 441 N. – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee