Buford Pusser…..Law Career
Buford had moved to Chicago late in the summer of 1957, but he began to feel a ‘tug at his heart’ to return to the slower pace of life of McNairy County. So in 1961, Buford packed up his family, which had grown to include a new baby girl, Dwana, and move back to Adamsville. His father Carl had been Adamsville’s police chief.
Due to medical problems, Carl planned to retire and he encouraged Buford to apply for his position. After a vote from the city board, Buford was made police chief and thus began his law enforcement career.
- 1962: appointed Adamsville Police Chief.
- 1964: elected Sheriff of McNairy County.
- Shot eight times.
- Knifed seven times
- Fought off six men at once, sending three to jail and three to the hospital.
- Destroyed 87 whiskey stills in 1965 alone.
- Killed two people in self-defense.
- Hopped on the hood a speeding car, smashed the window and subdued the man who had tried to run over him.
- Served three consecutive terms as Sheriff of McNairy County leaving the office September 1st,1970 due to Tennessee Term Limitations.
