Jed Lipinski

At the hospital, Pauline was pronounced dead. Buford was taken to Memphis to get his jaw reconstructed. Sheriff's deputies stood guard outside his room around the clock, fearing the assassins might return to finish the job. Steve Sweat was 12 years old at the time of the ambush. He remembers the moment he heard about it.

At the hospital, Pauline was pronounced dead. Buford was taken to Memphis to get his jaw reconstructed. Sheriff's deputies stood guard outside his room around the clock, fearing the assassins might return to finish the job. Steve Sweat was 12 years old at the time of the ambush. He remembers the moment he heard about it.

Based on Buford's statement to the cops, they concluded the ambush was motivated by his quest to combat corruption on the state line. A full-scale search for the murderers ensued. The governor of Tennessee offered a $5,000 reward for info leading to an arrest and conviction. But months passed, and the money was never collected. The Black Cadillac and the assassins had vanished without a trace.

Based on Buford's statement to the cops, they concluded the ambush was motivated by his quest to combat corruption on the state line. A full-scale search for the murderers ensued. The governor of Tennessee offered a $5,000 reward for info leading to an arrest and conviction. But months passed, and the money was never collected. The Black Cadillac and the assassins had vanished without a trace.

Still, Buford, now recovered, said he had a good idea of who they were. He named several men with ties to the state-line mob in the Dixie Mafia. Kirksey Nix was one of them. Over the next few years, four of those men died under suspicious circumstances. One, a notorious gangster named Carl Towhead White, was ambushed and killed in his car outside a motel in Corinth, Mississippi.

Still, Buford, now recovered, said he had a good idea of who they were. He named several men with ties to the state-line mob in the Dixie Mafia. Kirksey Nix was one of them. Over the next few years, four of those men died under suspicious circumstances. One, a notorious gangster named Carl Towhead White, was ambushed and killed in his car outside a motel in Corinth, Mississippi.

Another was reportedly found floating in the Boston Harbor, his body riddled with bullets. Two more were shot to death in Texas. Kirksey Nix supposedly survived only because he was locked up at the time. No evidence tied Buford to those murders. But legend has it, Buford had a hand in all of them.

Another was reportedly found floating in the Boston Harbor, his body riddled with bullets. Two more were shot to death in Texas. Kirksey Nix supposedly survived only because he was locked up at the time. No evidence tied Buford to those murders. But legend has it, Buford had a hand in all of them.

Whatever the truth was, Buford's style of law enforcement suited residents of McNary County. After the ambush, he was reelected twice more. Then, in 1974, at 36 years old, he died. He was speeding down a country road in his Corvette when he spun out of control, hit an embankment, and broke his neck.

Whatever the truth was, Buford's style of law enforcement suited residents of McNary County. After the ambush, he was reelected twice more. Then, in 1974, at 36 years old, he died. He was speeding down a country road in his Corvette when he spun out of control, hit an embankment, and broke his neck.

The story of the ambush and Buford's vigilante quest to kill the men who'd murdered his wife struck a deep and primal chord in American culture. It inspired a bestselling book in 1971 called The 12th of August by W.R. Morris. From there, the legend took on a life of its own. The 12th of August was adapted into the hit 1973 movie Walking Tall, starring Joe Don Baker as Buford Pusser.

The story of the ambush and Buford's vigilante quest to kill the men who'd murdered his wife struck a deep and primal chord in American culture. It inspired a bestselling book in 1971 called The 12th of August by W.R. Morris. From there, the legend took on a life of its own. The 12th of August was adapted into the hit 1973 movie Walking Tall, starring Joe Don Baker as Buford Pusser.

Walking Tall was lightly fictionalized. For example, Joe Don Baker carries a hickory stick instead of a gun while cleaning up the state line. In truth, Buford never carried a stick on patrol. But since the film was based on a true story, most people naturally thought it was true. And so the legend grew. The film spawned two sequels.

Walking Tall was lightly fictionalized. For example, Joe Don Baker carries a hickory stick instead of a gun while cleaning up the state line. In truth, Buford never carried a stick on patrol. But since the film was based on a true story, most people naturally thought it was true. And so the legend grew. The film spawned two sequels.

The country and rockabilly singer Eddie Bond released an entire album of songs inspired by the sheriff. Listening to the lyrics, you could be mistaken for thinking Buford Pussert was a figure out of American folklore, like John Henry or Paul Bunyan. Actor Joe Don Baker, who played Buford in the original Walking Tall, later compared him to a character from Greek mythology.

The country and rockabilly singer Eddie Bond released an entire album of songs inspired by the sheriff. Listening to the lyrics, you could be mistaken for thinking Buford Pussert was a figure out of American folklore, like John Henry or Paul Bunyan. Actor Joe Don Baker, who played Buford in the original Walking Tall, later compared him to a character from Greek mythology.

Then, in 2004, the remake of Walking Tall came out. Shortly after the premiere, The Rock came to McNary County to see where Buford lived. Steve Sweat and his wife escorted him around, accompanied by a group of impatient MGM execs.

Then, in 2004, the remake of Walking Tall came out. Shortly after the premiere, The Rock came to McNary County to see where Buford lived. Steve Sweat and his wife escorted him around, accompanied by a group of impatient MGM execs.

Steve took the rock to Buford's house, his office, and the local courthouse. He regaled him with stories as the rock sat hunched in the back seat.

Steve took the rock to Buford's house, his office, and the local courthouse. He regaled him with stories as the rock sat hunched in the back seat.