Helen Pusser interview, 1978

Authors

Files

Description

Transcription of an interview with Helen Pusser in Adamsville, Tennessee, on August 8, 1978, by Dr. Charles W. Crawford of Memphis State University. The interview was transcribed by Carol Laney.

Helen Harris Pusser (1908-1987) was the mother of former McNairy County sheriff Buford Hayse Pusser (1937-1974). Pusser was Adamsville police chief and constable from 1962 to 1964 and then became county sheriff who campaigned against moonshining, gambling and prostitution along the Tennessee-Mississippi state line. He survived several assassination attempts but on August 12, 1967, he and his wife Pauline were shot and Pauline died. Pusser continued as sheriff until 1970 when he was ineligible for re-election because of term limits. He was elected constable that year and served until 1972. He died in a car accident on August 21, 1974.

Identifier

sc.0484.02.045_01.001

Date

1978 August 8

Keywords

Pusser, Buford, 1937-1974., Pusser, Helen, 1908-1987.

Recommended Citation

"Helen Pusser interview, 1978" (2021). Documents. 2.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-oralhistory1/2