Jed Lipinski

Once, in 1966, Buford killed the owner of a seedy state-line motel after she fired at him with a concealed .38. Another time, a speeding motorist he'd pulled over shot him in the face before fleeing the scene. Buford got stitched up and went back to work. Steve could hardly believe it. Buford was like a real-life Matt Dillon, the star of Gunsmoke.

Once, in 1966, Buford killed the owner of a seedy state-line motel after she fired at him with a concealed .38. Another time, a speeding motorist he'd pulled over shot him in the face before fleeing the scene. Buford got stitched up and went back to work. Steve could hardly believe it. Buford was like a real-life Matt Dillon, the star of Gunsmoke.

In the show, Dillon is the marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, tasked with bringing law and order to the lawless frontier town.

In the show, Dillon is the marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, tasked with bringing law and order to the lawless frontier town.

But what happened next would raise Buford Pusser from a local legend to a national folk hero.

But what happened next would raise Buford Pusser from a local legend to a national folk hero.

Early in the morning of August 12, 1967, a call came into Buford Pusser's home. The caller said a few drunks were threatening to kill each other at Hollis Jordan's Beer Hall, a rowdy spot near the state line.

Early in the morning of August 12, 1967, a call came into Buford Pusser's home. The caller said a few drunks were threatening to kill each other at Hollis Jordan's Beer Hall, a rowdy spot near the state line.

According to Buford's biographer, W.R. Morris, Buford and Pauline were scheduled to attend a family gathering in Virginia later that day. So Pauline decided to join him.

According to Buford's biographer, W.R. Morris, Buford and Pauline were scheduled to attend a family gathering in Virginia later that day. So Pauline decided to join him.

So, responding to an anonymous complaint, Buford and Pauline jumped into his Plymouth Fury and raced down New Hope Road to Hollis Jordan's Beer Hall. En route, they passed the New Hope Methodist Church. Moments later, a sleek black Cadillac pulled up beside them. It sprayed Buford's Plymouth with a .30-caliber carbine.

So, responding to an anonymous complaint, Buford and Pauline jumped into his Plymouth Fury and raced down New Hope Road to Hollis Jordan's Beer Hall. En route, they passed the New Hope Methodist Church. Moments later, a sleek black Cadillac pulled up beside them. It sprayed Buford's Plymouth with a .30-caliber carbine.

The shots shattered the driver's side window, missing Buford but striking Pauline in the head. As Buford later told his biographer, he had an automatic shotgun beneath the seat and a .41 Magnum pistol on his hip, but he didn't have time to grab them. Pauline slumped onto the floorboard. Pusser gunned it.

The shots shattered the driver's side window, missing Buford but striking Pauline in the head. As Buford later told his biographer, he had an automatic shotgun beneath the seat and a .41 Magnum pistol on his hip, but he didn't have time to grab them. Pauline slumped onto the floorboard. Pusser gunned it.

He drove another two miles until he thought he'd lost the attackers and pulled over to check on Pauline.

He drove another two miles until he thought he'd lost the attackers and pulled over to check on Pauline.

Buford later said he lay Pauline's head on his lap and saw a gaping wound. He prayed, oh God, please don't let her die. As he did so, the black Cadillac reappeared. A gunman opened fire again, this time at point-blank range. Buford took two shots to the lower jaw, his chin held in place only by a flap of skin. He slumped forward as another bullet ripped through the driver's side door.

Buford later said he lay Pauline's head on his lap and saw a gaping wound. He prayed, oh God, please don't let her die. As he did so, the black Cadillac reappeared. A gunman opened fire again, this time at point-blank range. Buford took two shots to the lower jaw, his chin held in place only by a flap of skin. He slumped forward as another bullet ripped through the driver's side door.

It shattered Pauline's skull, killing her instantly. Buford managed to drive another seven miles to the hospital.

It shattered Pauline's skull, killing her instantly. Buford managed to drive another seven miles to the hospital.