Storytelling session keeps “Walking Tall” sheriff’s memory alive

ADAMSVILLE, Tenn.– Dozens of people gathered to re-live on of their most beloved sheriff’s lives Saturday afternoon.

The 28th annual Sheriff Buford Pusser Festival held its annual storytelling session. Life-long friends shared unique stories about the Sheriff and the importance of keeping his memory alive.

“It was cars, bullets, badges, buildings, and guns,” Pusser historian Steve Sweat said. “It’s a guy’s story.”

It’s a core part of the festival, and a tradition many cherish.

Young and old gathered at The Marty to listen to stories of the man “walking tall.”

“It keeps his memory alive, and it’s sad in a way, it’s easy to get emotional talking about some of the stories about him,” life-long friend Jack Coffman said.

“With al the things that is happening in our world today, people are looking for someone to say, ‘I will stand up,’ and I think that is why this story is getting bigger,” Sweat said.

Sweat shared this Sheriff Pusser’s first moon shining mill bust was actually his brother’s moon shining business, and the sheriff saved him from that life.

“I was raised in a bootlegging, moon shining, alcoholic home, but to me because of the example of Sheriff Pusser, I followed law enforcement,” he said.

People from all over the country traveled to hear tales of Pusser, many inspired by him to become local law enforcement.

“Buford was a person he was fair Buford would take and do anything for anybody but when it came to the law he treated everybody fair and equal,” Marshall Michael McGregor from Francisco, Indiana said.

“Buford will live forever, and his memory you know, anybody that knew him and the people that are learning about him, because he was everybody’s person,” Coffman said.

Also at the festival Saturday, Chester County Sheriff Blair Weaver was chosen as local sheriff of the year, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin Sheriff David Clarke was recognized with the national honor.