Behind the Bastards

Part One: Buford Pusser: The Worst Sheriff Ever

September 23, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The "Behind the Bastards" episode "Part One: Buford Pusser: The Worst Sheriff Ever" introduces Buford Pusser as a figure whose legendary, often embellished, life story inspired the "Walking Tall" film franchise and shaped Hollywood's perception of the ideal lawman. 
  • Buford Pusser's early life, as recounted through his daughter's book, reveals a pattern of extreme violence and questionable judgment, including shooting at his grandfather and a drive-by shooting at age 17, which foreshadow his later controversial career. 
  • The narrative of Buford Pusser's life, particularly the events surrounding his wife's death and his own injuries, is being re-evaluated by experts, suggesting that the heroic mythos built around him may be largely untrue. 
  • The popular legend of Buford Pusser wrestling and defeating a grizzly bear is largely a fabrication, with the actual event involving a much smaller, likely injured black bear at a carnival during his high school years, highlighting the embellishment of his life story for the 'Walking Tall' narrative. 
  • Buford Pusser's violent ambush and near-fatal assault on W.O. Hathcock Jr. with a fence post, occurring just a week after his marriage, serves as the origin of the myth of him fighting crime with improvised weapons, when in reality it stemmed from a personal grudge over a gambling dispute. 
  • The podcast 'Behind the Bastards' emphasizes how Buford Pusser's life story, as depicted in popular culture and the 'Walking Tall' films, is a significant departure from reality, with many of his legendary feats being exaggerated or entirely fabricated to create the image of an ideal lawman. 

Segments

Introduction and Live Show
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The “Behind the Bastards” podcast announced a live show in Portland, Oregon, with live stream tickets available to benefit the Portland Defense Fund.
  • Summary: Robert Evans announces an upcoming live show for “Behind the Bastards” in Portland, Oregon, detailing how to purchase live stream tickets and emphasizing that the proceeds will benefit the Portland Defense Fund.
Buford Pusser’s Legend
Copied to clipboard!
(00:05:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser, the subject of “Part One: Buford Pusser: The Worst Sheriff Ever,” is known for the “Walking Tall” movies, which cemented his image as a heroic, albeit violent, lawman, a myth now being questioned.
  • Summary: The hosts introduce Buford Pusser, discussing his memorable name and the popular perception of him as a heroic sheriff, largely shaped by the “Walking Tall” films, while hinting that this image is not entirely accurate.
Early Life and Violence
Copied to clipboard!
(00:12:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser’s childhood, as described by his daughter, was marked by unusual family dynamics and a disturbing normalization of violence, including a shotgun prank on his grandfather and a church knife fight.
  • Summary: The podcast delves into Buford Pusser’s early life, detailing his family background and recounting anecdotes from his daughter’s book that highlight a childhood environment where violence, such as shooting at his grandfather and a knife fight at church, was treated casually.
The State Line Mob
Copied to clipboard!
(00:30:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The crackdown on organized crime in Phoenix City, Alabama, led to a criminal diaspora that settled in McNary County, Tennessee, establishing the “State Line Mob” and contributing to the area’s illicit economy.
  • Summary: The discussion shifts to the rise of organized crime in McNary County, explaining how the displacement of criminals from Phoenix City fueled the growth of the State Line Mob, which operated gambling, prostitution, and illegal liquor businesses in the dry county.
The Bear Wrestling Myth
Copied to clipboard!
(00:58:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The widely circulated story of Buford Pusser wrestling a grizzly bear is a significant embellishment, with the actual event being a less impressive encounter with a smaller, possibly incapacitated black bear at a carnival.
  • Summary: The hosts delve into the popular legend of Buford Pusser wrestling a grizzly bear, debunking it by referencing his daughter’s book. They explain that the event was a carnival sideshow involving a black bear, not a grizzly, and that the bear was likely small and possibly had its teeth and claws removed, making the feat far less heroic than claimed.
Origin of the Fence Post Myth
Copied to clipboard!
(01:03:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser’s violent assault on W.O. Hathcock Jr. with a fence post, motivated by a gambling dispute, is the true origin of the ‘Walking Tall’ imagery of him using improvised weapons, not a fight against crime.
  • Summary: This segment discusses Buford Pusser’s return to the state line shortly after his marriage to ambush and nearly kill W.O. Hathcock Jr. with a fence post. The hosts clarify that this act of vengeance, stemming from a gambling loss, is the source of the iconic ‘Walking Tall’ image of Pusser wielding a stick or log, rather than a heroic act against criminals.
Dan’s Podcast Plug
Copied to clipboard!
(01:05:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast ‘Quick Question with Soren and Daniel’ offers a blend of pop culture analysis, inside Hollywood stories, and personal conversations between friends, providing listeners with entertaining and insightful content.
  • Summary: Dan plugs his podcast, ‘Quick Question with Soren and Daniel,’ describing it as a show where he and Soren Bowie discuss various topics including their past work on ‘After Hours’ and ‘Cracked.com,’ their experiences as TV writers, and general pop culture analysis, all in a conversational and free format.