‘WALKING TALL SHERIFF BUFORD PUSSER survived eight shootings and seven stabbings while singlehandedly battling crime in 1960s Tennessee.
ONE-MAN WAR
As the sheriff of McNairy County from 1964 to 1970, Pusser became famous for his one-man war on moonshiners, illegal gamblers, prostitutes and related vice crime along the Mississippi–Tennessee state line.
He is now the legendary, larger-than-life lawman of movies, songs and books.
WIFE MURDERED
Pusser’s wife Pauline was shot to death on August 12, 1967, at the age 35 in a driveby assassination that was intended to kill Pusser. Pusser was shot multiple times but survived.
The car crash that finally killed Pusser, on August 21, 1974, was believed by many to be another murder attempt — one that succeeded this time.
Scene from the 1973 movie ‘Walking Tall’ with Jo Don Baker as Buford Pusser, where Pauline Pusser, played by Elizabeth Hartman, is shot to death by outlaws.
BRENDA BENET SO COOL
Great scene in the movie with Brenda Benet as a super cool prostitute. She was best known for playing the scheming villainess Lee Dumonde on the daytime serial ‘Days of Our Lives,’ but this minute-long bit in my opinion is a classic example of masterful acting without saying a word.
SIDE STORY: TRAGIC DEATH OF BRENDA BENET
The actress never recovered from the death of her six-year-old son Christopher (an only son with ex-husband Bill Bixby) in March 1981 while they were on a weekend ski trip at Mammoth Lakes in California. The boy had an attack of acute epiglottitis, (inflammation of the flap at the base of the tongue that prevents food entering the windpipe) and suffered a cardiac arrest.
A year later, on April 7, 1982, Brenda Benet shot herself in the head at her home in Los Angeles. She was 36.
Mary Saves the Day 
8 responses to “Sheriff Buford Pusser too tough to kill so they shot his wife to death”
How tragic. Never heard the story of Brenda Benet before.
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Brenda Benet’s story is one of the saddest out of Hollywood. She was hugely popular in ‘Days of Our Lives’ — actually unpopular in that she broke up a marriage to the chagrin of fans. I never watched the show, but as I say, her bit in ‘Walking Tall’ is a scene stealer. Thanks for reading my posts.
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The author seemed to miss a lot of fact as he wrote his story. Most people are not aware that Buford and Pauline were having marital problems at the time of her death, mostly from his womanizing. Buford was not a faithful husband to his wife as he was having multiple affairs. Pauline was overheard threatening to expose the fact that he was taking payoffs if he didn’t stop seeing one woman in particular. Buford responded to his wife saying , if she did she wouldn’t live to see the light of day. She died a few hours later, just as Buford said she would. Most people are not aware that Pauline and Buford were separated at that time and she was living in a motel in Savannah, a few miles away from Adamsville.
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Mike, thanks for the input. There seems to be two perspectives on Pusser — one of popular legend and the one you write about in your book, ‘Buford Pusser: The Other Story.’ I was more interested in his crime fighting than his marital problems.
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[…] 'Walking Tall' Sheriff Buford Pusser […]
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Mike Elam : supports Dennis Hathcock son of W.O.Hathcock .Nephew Louise Hathcock. Why would Dennis Hathcock tell tale that his father son Buford Pusser a weapon and His father W.O.Hathcock Sold Illegal anything -Whatever? Mike Elam contacts Nix claims he wasn’t in Mississippi and Had nothing to do with Pusser d.o.d.or Pauline D.o.d?How good is Dennis Hathcock for a witness&testimony does he have motives/agenda ?Mike Elam 72yr from Ark?How is he related to Louise Hathcock?Walk tall movie The Spot is Plantation own by W.O.Hathcock?Why did Louise adopt Susan if she was jealous of her with Jack Hathcock husb&Susan anderson Hathcock wed Raymond Lee Jones d.o.d.12-4-1967?ShamRock aka 45Grill caught fire 12-25-1949 and 12-19-1956 &later Plantation club mystery burned 2-19-1959 ground while Hathcock closed club pursue other businesses ? Jack Hathcock d.o.d.5-22-1964 near louise no.1 room and Louise Hathcock d.o.d.2-1-1966 her room1? Towhead White d.o.d.4-3-1969? pauline Pusser d.o.d.8-12-1967 buford Pusser d.o.d.8-21-1974?
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hwy 45 state line mob aka dixie mob:Hathcock/ friends with others along hwy45?jack and louise Hathcock adopt wm Anderson dau Jeanette “Susan” Anderson Rathcock Jones 11-1-1948 to 12-4-1967?Louise Hathcock affair peewee walker d.o.d6-13-1957?jack supposedly had affair iris name bar iris(white) is related towhead white ? Carl Douglas Towhead White start work state line 1953&Rumor Louise start have affair 1950s-60s?Jack Hathcock bought Susan house with new husband Ray Lee Jones d.o.d.12-4-1967? Susan name on Jack Hathcock will to inherit good portion property state line ? Louise jealous Susan?W.O.Hathcock JR bought up allJack Hathcock property from _ jack didn’t pay taxes& W.O.Hathcockjr end up own the state propertys hwy 45 after jack/louse demise?Dennis Hathcock son of W.O.defends his dad argues in support of _? state line mob all bars /clubs on hwy 45 sell bootleg illegal alcohol among other illegal activities during 1930s-1960s?
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article:(men shoot over rights of use rd next Shamrock)( july14,1966,HaywoodKing,BerrySmithJr&W.O.Hathcock involved shooting incident on narrow gravel road(vacant lot) next to Shamrock Motel 7-13-1966&King report the fight occur over the right use road to gain access to tract of property (Berry Smith Jr own end road).W.O.Hathcock paid$100,ooo state line properties jack Hathcock formerly owned _ march16,1967 advised that W.O.Hathcock operator shamrock/motel has obtain_licenses&opened adjoining white Iris.Article April3,1969..Oliver Lee Nimbo Price 31( pal of towhead)shot 3 times while try breakin trailer occupied by BerrySmithjR.Article: Berry SmithJr 35,shot 35 jr Towhead white while outside Elray Motel&Berry said Towhead fired 1st shots.(BerryJr trailer next to ElrayMotel/Restaurant/Nightfallmotel near El Ray Motel located next to Theresa’s Truckstop just south of Corinth on Hwy 45 and was located at the address now called 1504 S. Tate Street Corinth,MS )BerrySmithJr businesses been raided several times &been arrested .El Ray Motel on U.S. Highway 45 in Corinth, Mississipp..(illegal activities).stateline mob/dixie mafia Towhead white,george McGann,Gary McDaniel&KirkseyNix?
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