Adamsville in McNairy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Legendary Blind Fiddle Player and Sheriff Buford Pusser

Photographed By David Austin

1. Legendary Blind Fiddle Player and Sheriff Buford Pusser Marker

Inscription. Historic Site
Legendary Blind Fiddle Player
and Sheriff Buford Pusser November 11,1965. The home of legendary blind fiddle player, Elvis Black, of McNairy County burned here at this site. The fire started inside the wood frame house and became a roaring blaze, consuming the house quickly. Gilbert Keen died in the fire. Elvis Black lived 12 days but died from his injuries.

Outside on the Leapwood Road, Sheriff Buford Pusser arrived on the scene to direct traffic. He noticed a car weighted down in the back, he stopped the car, Sheriff Pusser attempted to get the keys from the ignition. The car continued gaining speed and dragged Sheriff Pusser about 300 yards before he fell out onto the pavement. The driver lost control a short distance away. The car went into a ditch and the two people in the car escaped on foot. There were 31 gallons of moonshine whiskey in the trunk of the car. Sheriff Pusser suffered broken ribs from this incident.

(Elvis Black was posthumously inducted into the McNairy County Music Hall of Fame Class of 2014)

Marker placed by McNairy County Historical Society and McNairy County Tourism. 2021

Erected 2021 by McNairy County Tourism and McNairy County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in

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this topic list: Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is November 11, 1965.

Location. 35° 18.899′ N, 88° 27.222′ W. Marker is in Adamsville, Tennessee, in McNairy County. Marker is on Leapwood Enville Road (Tennessee Route 224) 0.6 miles north of Finger Leapwood Road (Tennessee Route 199), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Adamsville TN 38310, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of Morris Chapel High School and Elementary School (approx. 5.9 miles away); Adamsville In The Civil War (approx. 6.4 miles away); October 4th 1969 (approx. 6.6 miles away); Approach to Shiloh (approx. 6.7 miles away); Buford Pusser Memorial Park (approx. 7 miles away); Fielding Hurst and Purdy (approx. 7.3 miles away); Buford Hayse Pusser (approx. 7½ miles away); Liberty Church (approx. 7.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Adamsville.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2014 Inductees

Photographed By David Austin

2. Legendary Blind Fiddle Player and Sheriff Buford Pusser Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2022, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 4, 2022, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.