February 2005                                                       The Megaphone                                                                  Page 3

Me and Buford

submitted by Pat (Conley) Kimmerling               

*Initially sent to the Den Site by Mickie (Conley) Boruff '60 a few years ago

In the early 70's I was living in the Atlanta suburbs and worked as a talent and booking agent for Lancer Productions in Nashville, TN. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed referring new talent to the agency and also booking special appearances for celebrities.

My worst experience during my time with the agency took place when I was booking personal appearances for Buford Pusser, the ex-sheriff of McNairy County, TN, on whom the film "Walking Tall" was based.

I had booked back-to-back appearances for Buford in Douglasville, GA. The entire town was so excited they would see the famous sheriff that they had declared the day of his personal appearance as "Buford Pusser Day" and scheduled a welcome from the mayor of Douglasville, a parade, a police escort to the Civic Auditorium, photo sessions, etc.

On the scheduled day of the appearance,  Buford's manager, Harland Brown, and his usual entourage, picked up my husband and me in his motorhome and we headed for Douglasville for the festivities. Buford, however, did not show up for the welcome, the parade, or any of the other festivities. We made our apologies and fabricated excuses for his "tardiness", and proceeded on to the auditorium.

Thirty minutes prior to "show time," Buford still was not there and we were beginning to panic. I told Harland, his manager to find a phone and to call Buford's mother to see if she knew what was going on. Harland said, "Mickie, would you please call because Buford is angry with me?" I replied with a few "naughty" words and headed out to find a phone. I reached Mrs. Pusser in Adamsville, TN, and she said that Buford had told her that he wasn't going to Douglasville because of the rift he had with his manager. I asked her if she knew where he was and she told me that he had gone to Jackson, TN, and he usually stayed at the Holiday Inn.

When we spoke, I knew that Buford was in no shape to be on any stage.

By this time, we were 15 minutes into the show, and I had The Lancers, the vocal group who opened Buford's appearances, playing and singing their hearts out to stall the "Standing Room Only" audience while I was searching the contract that was drawn up between us and the sponsoring organization, looking for an "out" for Buford's "no show." The only viable clause in the contract was that if the principle subject  was not able to attend, a suitable replacement had to stand in for the subject.

After a very heated discussion with Buford's manager, I went on stage, conveyed to the audience, and assured them that he would be in attendance for the next evening's appearance and that as the audience left the auditorium, their money would be refunded at the gate.

As I exited the stage, there was a rumble in the crowd, and I wanted to find a hole to crawl in to avoid bodily injury.

Next thing I know, Buford's manager was on the stage with a microphone telling the audience that our contract with the sponsoring organization stated that it was our responsibility to provide them with a "suitable replacement" for their entertainment, and to my astonishment, he then announced, "At this time, ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to a formidable talent in the entertainment field! Mickie . . . Please come back on this stage and sing Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown for the audience!"

I darn-near fainted! I had heard the song once or twice. I forced a big smile, walked back on the stage, waved to the crowd and pulled The Lancers' lead singer aside and told him, "I don't know the words to this damn song . . . what in the ---- is he trying to do . . . get me killed?"

The lead singer told me to chill out and that he would stand next to me with his back to the audience as if her were conducting the band, and whisper the words to the song in my ear!

The band started playing and I started singing as the lead was whispering the words to me until the song was finally over with . . . praise God.

Needless to say, I did not receive a standing ovation, but at least, nobody threw rotten eggs at me.

For those of you who may be interested in the outcome of the next evening's scheduled show, Buford pulled another no-show . . . 

To this day, I still do not have the nerve to travel through Douglasville, Georgia.

Mickie (Conley) Boruff '60

Note: My sister, Mickie, passed away this past August 13. I came across this in some of her files. I felt that the newer members of the Den Site may enjoy some of my incredible sister's adventures.

I was unable to find her 2nd installment, but I do know that it involved them having to leave town in a hurry.

This took place around the time just prior to Buford being murdered. Because of apparent threats from Tennessee to Buford, and with Mickie being rather connected with him, for a period of time, there was an around-the-clock police watch on Mick and her family for protection.

I have a million "Mickie Stories" that I entertain myself with until we meet again.

Pat (Conley) Kimmerling '56

Lake Weiss, Alabama