Near New Lawton in McNairy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Buford Hayse Pusser

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

1. Buford Hayse Pusser Marker

Inscription. On December 12, 1937, Buford Hayse Pusser was born in Finger, Tennessee. In 1962 he became Adamsville's chief of police. He was elected sheriff of McNairy County in 1964. Soon his courageous fight against crime exposed him to much danger and many personal injuries. A movie and a book based on Sheriff Pusser's experiences made him a nationally known hero. He died in an automobile accident here on August 21, 1974.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4C 26.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Law Enforcement • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 12, 1937.

Location. 35° 12.357′ N, 88° 27.586′ W. Marker is near New Lawton, Tennessee, in McNairy County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 64 and Lawton Road, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 64. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Selmer TN 38375, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Approach to Shiloh (approx. 1.6 miles away); Purdy (approx. 2.3 miles away); October 4th 1969

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 2.9 miles away); Memorial to Veterans (approx. 3.9 miles away); Adamsville In The Civil War (approx. 4.2 miles away); Dewey Phillips & Adamsville High School (approx. 4.3 miles away); Fielding Hurst and Purdy (approx. 4.4 miles away); a different marker also named Approach to Shiloh (approx. 4.7 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Buford Pusser. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on January 16, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Buford Pusser Home & Museum. The museum collection includes the wrecked Corvette Pusser was driving at the accident which took his life. (Submitted on April 10, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Additional commentary.
1. This Marker in a Movie
In last few seconds of the movie "Walking Tall - Final Chapter" (1977), there is a close-up shot of this marker. The camera shot looks west showing the last mile of road that Pusser was travelling on before he went off the road. In 1977 this was a two lane highway but it has since been changed to four lanes with a grass median. The movie is presently (January 2014) on Youtube.

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

2. Buford Hayse Pusser Marker and Memorial
— Submitted January 15, 2014, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Buford Hayse Pusser Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

3. Buford Hayse Pusser Memorial

Buford Pusser
Dec. 12, 1937
Aug. 21, 1974

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,897 times since then and 83 times this year. Last updated on April 8, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 10, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.