Jed Lipinski

Hulk Hogan tried to do it in the 80s and 90s, but most of his films flopped. His 1996 film, Santa with Muscles, has been called one of the worst movies ever made. The Rock's film career began with fantasy roles in The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King. But it was his leading role in the 2004 film Walking Tall that solidified his status as an action star. I was justified in what I did.

Hulk Hogan tried to do it in the 80s and 90s, but most of his films flopped. His 1996 film, Santa with Muscles, has been called one of the worst movies ever made. The Rock's film career began with fantasy roles in The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King. But it was his leading role in the 2004 film Walking Tall that solidified his status as an action star. I was justified in what I did.

And if you acquit me of these charges, then I'm going to run for sheriff. And if elected, I'm going to fix this town. Order! Order! In the film, The Rock plays a retired Special Forces agent who returns to his hometown to find it awash in corruption. He decides to run for sheriff and launches a one-man crusade to clean up the town.

And if you acquit me of these charges, then I'm going to run for sheriff. And if elected, I'm going to fix this town. Order! Order! In the film, The Rock plays a retired Special Forces agent who returns to his hometown to find it awash in corruption. He decides to run for sheriff and launches a one-man crusade to clean up the town.

The movie poster shows him striding down a country road, armed only with a 2x4. Younger viewers may not have realized Walking Tall was a remake of the 1973 hit movie of the same name. Both were based on the real-life story of Buford Pusser. If you're under 40 and live outside Tennessee, you've probably never heard of Buford. But in the 60s and 70s, he was a big deal.

The movie poster shows him striding down a country road, armed only with a 2x4. Younger viewers may not have realized Walking Tall was a remake of the 1973 hit movie of the same name. Both were based on the real-life story of Buford Pusser. If you're under 40 and live outside Tennessee, you've probably never heard of Buford. But in the 60s and 70s, he was a big deal.

Pusser was an almost mythical figure in the South. He died in a fiery car crash in 1974 at 36. But in just over a decade in law enforcement, he managed to inspire a legend akin to that of Wild West lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok. The folklore surrounding Buford Pusser can make it hard to separate fact from fiction. So here are some facts.

Pusser was an almost mythical figure in the South. He died in a fiery car crash in 1974 at 36. But in just over a decade in law enforcement, he managed to inspire a legend akin to that of Wild West lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok. The folklore surrounding Buford Pusser can make it hard to separate fact from fiction. So here are some facts.

Pusser was born on a sharecropper's farm in Adamsville, Tennessee. He was 6'6 and 250 by high school and got a scholarship to play college football. He enlisted in the Marines instead, but was given a medical discharge for asthma. From there, he bounced around. He got a job as a die cutter for a paper bag company in Chicago. He went to mortuary school at night.

Pusser was born on a sharecropper's farm in Adamsville, Tennessee. He was 6'6 and 250 by high school and got a scholarship to play college football. He enlisted in the Marines instead, but was given a medical discharge for asthma. From there, he bounced around. He got a job as a die cutter for a paper bag company in Chicago. He went to mortuary school at night.

For extra money, he wrestled professionally on weekends under the name Buford the Bull. It was after a match that he met his future wife, Pauline Mullins. Pauline was a petite blonde from Virginia, divorced with two young kids. They married soon after and moved back to Buford's hometown of Adamsville. It was here that Buford found his calling in law enforcement.

For extra money, he wrestled professionally on weekends under the name Buford the Bull. It was after a match that he met his future wife, Pauline Mullins. Pauline was a petite blonde from Virginia, divorced with two young kids. They married soon after and moved back to Buford's hometown of Adamsville. It was here that Buford found his calling in law enforcement.

Buford became Adamsville's chief of police at age 25. Two years later, he ran for sheriff of McNary County, promising to clean up the violence and corruption that plagued the state line between Tennessee and Mississippi. For decades, the sale of hard liquor was prohibited in McNary County. The area became a hub for bootlegging and moonshining. Illegal gambling and prostitution flourished.

Buford became Adamsville's chief of police at age 25. Two years later, he ran for sheriff of McNary County, promising to clean up the violence and corruption that plagued the state line between Tennessee and Mississippi. For decades, the sale of hard liquor was prohibited in McNary County. The area became a hub for bootlegging and moonshining. Illegal gambling and prostitution flourished.

Criminal groups like the State Line Mob and the Dixie Mafia terrorized residents and tourists alike. Buford, the imposing former wrestler, seemed like the man for the job. He became the youngest sheriff in the history of Tennessee. He immediately developed a reputation as a fearless crusader.

Criminal groups like the State Line Mob and the Dixie Mafia terrorized residents and tourists alike. Buford, the imposing former wrestler, seemed like the man for the job. He became the youngest sheriff in the history of Tennessee. He immediately developed a reputation as a fearless crusader.

This is Steve Sweat. He owns a body shop in McNary County called Steve Sweat Body Shop. He's also considered the unofficial Buford Pusser historian.

This is Steve Sweat. He owns a body shop in McNary County called Steve Sweat Body Shop. He's also considered the unofficial Buford Pusser historian.

Steve first heard about Buford Pusser as a young boy. He watched a lot of westerns and police procedurals on TV, like Gunsmoke and Highway Patrol. Pusser reminded him of the men in those shows. Steve studied Buford. He read the articles about him in the newspaper. Stories of Pusser arresting bootleggers, dynamiting moonshine stills, punching out drunks at the roadhouse down the street.

Steve first heard about Buford Pusser as a young boy. He watched a lot of westerns and police procedurals on TV, like Gunsmoke and Highway Patrol. Pusser reminded him of the men in those shows. Steve studied Buford. He read the articles about him in the newspaper. Stories of Pusser arresting bootleggers, dynamiting moonshine stills, punching out drunks at the roadhouse down the street.