Behind the Bastards

Part Two: Buford Pusser: The Worst Sheriff Ever

September 25, 2025

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  • The narrative surrounding Buford Pusser, as presented in "Behind the Bastards" episode "Part Two: Buford Pusser: The Worst Sheriff Ever," suggests that his public image as a heroic lawman wielding a stick was largely a manufactured legend, obscuring a reality of criminal activity and potentially murder. 
  • Evidence strongly indicates that Buford Pusser murdered his wife, Pauline, and then staged an assassination attempt on himself to cover up the crime, a deception facilitated by his past as a professional wrestler skilled in faking injuries. 
  • The investigation into Buford Pusser's life reveals a pattern of corruption and self-serving actions, where his pursuit of power and wealth likely involved extorting businesses and eliminating rivals, including his own wife, rather than a genuine war on crime. 
  • Buford Pusser cultivated a larger-than-life hero image to deflect from the murder of his wife, with the public and media largely accepting his fabricated narrative despite widespread suspicion. 
  • The cultural acceptance of law enforcement bending or breaking rules, particularly in the context of perceived justice for a murdered spouse, allowed Buford Pusser to evade serious consequences for suspected orchestrations of deaths. 
  • The success of the film 'Walking Tall' propelled Buford Pusser to national celebrity, allowing him to profit from his fabricated persona and overshadowing the truth of his actions, even in his hometown where many knew he was a fraud. 

Segments

Buford Pusser’s Early Life
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(00:00:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser’s family struggled with naming conventions, and he himself committed numerous crimes.
  • Summary: The episode “Part Two: Buford Pusser: The Worst Sheriff Ever” on “Behind the Bastards” begins by noting the unusual naming practices of Buford Pusser’s family. It is established that Pusser was involved in committing a significant number of horrible crimes.
Pop Culture References to Buford
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(00:01:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The name Buford is rare, primarily recognized from fictional characters like Benjamin Buford ‘Bubba’ Blue and Buford T. Justice.
  • Summary: The rarity of the name Buford is highlighted, with the only known instances being Benjamin Buford Blue from ‘Forrest Gump’ and Buford T. Justice from ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’ The latter character’s name is noted as likely being inspired by Buford Pusser due to the film’s release date relative to ‘Walking Tall.’
The ‘Walking Tall’ Legend
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(00:02:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘Walking Tall’ movies, particularly the original, mythologized Buford Pusser’s use of a large stick to fight criminals, a portrayal that was more heroic than accurate.
  • Summary: The ‘Walking Tall’ films are discussed, focusing on the iconic image of Buford Pusser wielding a large stick or log to combat gangsters. The original movie’s tagline, ’the measure of a man is how tall he walks,’ is analyzed for its literal and poetic interpretations, with the hosts finding it lacking in clarity.
Buford’s Criminal Past and Alibi
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(00:07:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser’s initial notoriety stemmed from a violent assault on W.O. Hathcock Jr. with a fence post, an act he and his friends attempted to cover up with a fabricated alibi.
  • Summary: The myth of Buford Pusser using a large piece of wood to fight crime originated from an incident where he assaulted W.O. Hathcock Jr. with a fence post. Pusser and his associates created a false alibi by having a friend alter time cards to avoid conviction for felony assault and armed robbery.
Buford’s Wrestling Career
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(00:11:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser briefly pursued a career as a professional wrestler, which provided him with income and potentially useful skills for his later criminal activities.
  • Summary: While working at a factory and attending mortuary school, Buford Pusser also worked as a professional wrestler to earn extra money. His wrestling career, though not a major success, caught the attention of figures like Jerry Lawler and taught him lessons that would be useful in his future criminal endeavors.
Path to Police Chief
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(00:14:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser became chief of police in Adamsville after his father retired, a move that may have been influenced by family corruption and a desire to control illicit businesses.
  • Summary: Buford Pusser became chief of police in Adamsville when his father, Carl, retired and encouraged him to apply. There is suspicion that his father, potentially involved in corruption with the mafia, wanted to pass on the lucrative position to his son to maintain the family’s control over illicit activities.
Sheriff Election and Corruption
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(00:23:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser ran for sheriff as a Republican in a Democratic stronghold, winning after the incumbent, James Dickey, died in a car accident, clearing an easy path for Pusser’s victory.
  • Summary: Buford Pusser’s ambition to become sheriff led him to run as a Republican, a surprising move in a Democratic area. His path to victory was unexpectedly cleared when the incumbent sheriff, James Dickey, died in a car accident, leading to Pusser’s easy win.
War on the State Line Gang
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(00:25:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Upon becoming sheriff, Pusser launched high-profile raids against the State Line Gang’s properties, gaining notoriety for his aggressive tactics, sometimes involving reporters.
  • Summary: As sheriff, Buford Pusser initiated a series of aggressive raids against the State Line Gang, targeting gambling dens and whiskey stills. He gained public attention by sometimes inviting reporters to witness his destructive raids, further solidifying his image as a tough lawman.
Dixie Mafia and Louise Hathcock
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(00:25:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Louise Hathcock, a prominent leader of the State Line Gang, ended her partnership with Jack Hathcock to be with Carl ‘Towhead’ White of the Dixie Mafia, leading to Jack’s murder.
  • Summary: Louise Hathcock, a key figure in the State Line Gang, left her husband Jack to pursue a relationship with Carl ‘Towhead’ White, a lieutenant in the Dixie Mafia. This separation led to a conspiracy where Towhead White murdered Jack Hathcock, with Louise convincing authorities it was self-defense.
Ambush and Survival
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(00:30:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser survived a brutal ambush where he was stabbed seven times, an event that significantly boosted his public image as an unkillable figure.
  • Summary: In late 1964, Buford Pusser was ambushed and stabbed seven times by unknown assailants, but he survived. This near-fatal attack, coupled with his previous raids, greatly enhanced his legend as a resilient lawman fighting against organized crime.
Murder of Louise Hathcock
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(00:32:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser shot and killed Louise Hathcock during a raid on the Shamrock Hotel, an act widely believed to be murder despite Pusser’s claim of self-defense.
  • Summary: During a raid on the Shamrock Hotel, Buford Pusser killed Louise Hathcock, claiming it was in self-defense. However, evidence and family accounts suggest she was shot in the back, indicating a likely murder orchestrated by Pusser, who sought to eliminate a rival in the criminal underworld.
The Assassination Attempt Myth
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(00:38:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The widely believed story of Carl ‘Towhead’ White orchestrating an assassination attempt on Buford Pusser after Louise’s death is now considered a fabrication.
  • Summary: The narrative that Carl ‘Towhead’ White, grieving his lover Louise, orchestrated an assassination attempt on Buford Pusser is presented as the established lore. This story involved Kirksey McNord Nix Jr. as the alleged hitman, but is now understood to be part of Pusser’s deception.
Pauline Pusser’s Death
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(00:40:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser claimed his wife Pauline was killed in an ambush, but forensic evidence and later investigations strongly suggest he murdered her and staged the scene.
  • Summary: Buford Pusser’s account of his wife Pauline’s death in a drive-by shooting is detailed, including his claims of being shot himself. However, forensic evidence, including a pre-death nasal fracture on Pauline and the analysis of the crime scene, points to Buford murdering her and then staging the assassination attempt.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
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(00:48:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser’s severe facial injuries were likely self-inflicted, a deception made easier by his past as a professional wrestler and a numb left side of his face.
  • Summary: The severity of Buford Pusser’s facial wounds, used to support his assassination story, is questioned, with the theory that he shot himself in the cheek. His background as a pro wrestler, accustomed to faking injuries, and a numb facial area from past trauma made this deception plausible.
Motive for Murder
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(00:56:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The motive for Buford Pusser murdering his wife likely stemmed from domestic abuse, accidental killing during intoxication, or her knowledge of his involvement in illegal activities.
  • Summary: The motive behind Buford Pusser’s alleged murder of his wife remains debated, with theories ranging from general domestic abuse and accidental killing while drunk to her knowledge of his criminal enterprises. Investigators like Mike Elam suggest Pusser may have killed her to prevent her from revealing his secrets.
Buford’s Continued Legend
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(00:59:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite the truth emerging, Buford Pusser’s legend as a heroic lawman persisted due to his skillful self-branding and the media’s willingness to accept his narrative.
  • Summary: Following his wife’s murder, Buford Pusser’s story of being a heroic sheriff ambushed by the mafia spread rapidly, with news articles celebrating him. His ability to portray himself as a grieving husband seeking vengeance, combined with the public’s acceptance of his narrative, allowed his legend to endure.
Selling the Hero Image
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(00:59:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser actively cultivated a larger-than-life hero persona to mask the murder of his wife, with media coverage reinforcing this fabricated image.
  • Summary: Following his wife’s murder, Buford Pusser’s narrative of being a tough, rule-breaking lawman spread rapidly through news articles. He strategically presented himself as a grieving husband vowing vengeance, which the public largely accepted.
Suspected Retaliatory Deaths
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(00:59:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Three men publicly named by Pusser in connection with his wife’s murder died suspiciously within a year, leading to widespread suspicion that Pusser orchestrated their deaths.
  • Summary: Carl Tohead White was killed the year after the murder, followed by George McGann and Gary McDaniel in Texas the subsequent year. While not charged, their deaths in quick succession fueled rumors that Pusser had them assassinated, a notion the public seemed to accept due to cultural leniency towards law enforcement.
Public Acceptance of Violence
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(01:00:26)
  • Key Takeaway: American culture’s willingness to grant leeway to police officers meant that many people in Tennessee accepted Pusser’s suspected involvement in murders as justified retribution.
  • Summary: The prevailing attitude allowed for the assumption that Pusser had orchestrated the deaths of those he accused, with the justification that they had killed his wife. This acceptance highlights a cultural tolerance for lawmen who bend or break rules to achieve their version of justice.
The ‘Walking Tall’ Phenomenon
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(01:03:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The book ‘The 12th of August’ and its film adaptation ‘Walking Tall’ transformed Buford Pusser into a national celebrity, solidifying his heroic, albeit fabricated, image.
  • Summary: W.R. Morris’s book and the subsequent hit movie ‘Walking Tall’ in 1973 propelled Buford Pusser to fame, leading to promotional tours and celebrity friendships. Bing Crosby Productions even planned a sequel where Pusser would play himself, further capitalizing on his manufactured persona.
Hometown Perceptions
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(01:04:56)
  • Key Takeaway: While many in McNary County publicly supported Buford Pusser due to his fame and the economic boost from ‘Walking Tall’ tourism, a significant portion knew he was a fraud and had murdered his wife.
  • Summary: Pusser claimed most of McNary County was proud of him, but acknowledged some who resisted his ‘clean up’ efforts. Investigations and local accounts suggest that many in his hometown were aware of his guilt, yet the town’s identity became intertwined with his ‘Walking Tall’ legacy, including a water tower silhouette and a museum.
Buford Pusser’s Death
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(01:08:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser died in a sports car crash on August 21, 1974, at the height of his fame, shortly after agreeing to star in a ‘Walking Tall’ sequel.
  • Summary: At just over 35 years old, Pusser’s life ended in a car accident while driving back from Memphis. This dramatic and somewhat fitting end to his story occurred as he was poised to further capitalize on his celebrity status, leaving many to feel a sense of relief that his reign of deception was over.
Tragedy of His Daughter
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(01:09:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Buford Pusser’s daughter’s unwavering hero worship, despite the open secret of her father’s murder of her mother, adds a profound layer of tragedy to the story.
  • Summary: The daughter’s continued belief in her father’s heroic narrative, even after knowing the rumors and likely truth of his wife’s murder, is presented as a tragic consequence of her upbringing or potential denial. This devotion, while perhaps initially endearing, becomes more somber when considering the underlying reality of Pusser’s actions.
Organized Crime Involvement
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(01:11:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Research suggests that Buford Pusser may have exaggerated the extent of his involvement with organized crime, potentially fabricating much of the conflict to bolster his image.
  • Summary: While Pusser accused various organized criminal groups, further investigation indicated these groups were not as directly involved in his life as he claimed. The narrative of his battles with the mafia might have been largely embellished to support his persona as a crime-fighting hero.