State Line Mob
Encyclopedia
The State Line Mob was an association of criminal elements that operated in the 1950s and 1960s at the Mississippi–Tennessee state line in Alcorn County, Mississippi
, and McNairy County, Tennessee
, along U.S. Route 45
. The State Line Mob was involved in bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, tourist fleecing, robbery, and murder. Many of the members were from Phenix City, Alabama
, having been displaced from that town when martial law
was declared by the Governor and the Alabama National Guard
attempted to clean the town up.
The organization owned and operated motels, restaurants, and clubs at the Mississippi–Tennessee state line and in the northern portion of Alcorn County, just north of Corinth, Mississippi
. These establishments were centers for every form of vice and reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars from sales of illegal moonshine and other contraband products. Primary owners were Jack and Louise Hathcock, Carl Douglas "Towhead" White, and W.O. Hathcock.
The State Line Mob gained national attention throughout the 1960s for its ongoing feud with famed McNairy County Sheriff
Buford Pusser
. The film Walking Tall
and its sequels were based on Pusser's war against the State Line Mob and other criminal elements.
State Line Mob is also a southern rock, country duo group from Muscle Shoals, Alabama
. Their song titled "McNairy County Line" was written about Buford Pusser and the State Line Mob Outlaws of that era. The song can be found on their debut CD Ruckus.
Alcorn County, Mississippi
There were 14,224 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had...
, and McNairy County, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, along U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45 is a north–south United States highway. US 45 is a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as ....
. The State Line Mob was involved in bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, tourist fleecing, robbery, and murder. Many of the members were from Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City is a city and the county seat in Russell County in the U.S. state of Alabama. Portions of Lee County are addressed as Phenix City, 36870 ZIP code, for the sole purpose that Smiths Station does not have full incorporation to annex the area...
, having been displaced from that town when martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
was declared by the Governor and the Alabama National Guard
Alabama National Guard
The Alabama National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Guard is part of the Alabama Military Department, seemingly overseen by the Adjutant General of Alabama....
attempted to clean the town up.
The organization owned and operated motels, restaurants, and clubs at the Mississippi–Tennessee state line and in the northern portion of Alcorn County, just north of Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth is a city in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,054 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alcorn County. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835.- History :...
. These establishments were centers for every form of vice and reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars from sales of illegal moonshine and other contraband products. Primary owners were Jack and Louise Hathcock, Carl Douglas "Towhead" White, and W.O. Hathcock.
The State Line Mob gained national attention throughout the 1960s for its ongoing feud with famed McNairy County Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Buford Pusser
Buford Pusser
Buford Hayse Pusser was the Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee , from 1964 to 1970. Pusser is known for his virtual one-man war on moonshining, prostitution, gambling, and other vices on the Mississippi-Tennessee state-line. His story has directly inspired several books, songs, movies and at...
. The film Walking Tall
Walking Tall
Walking Tall is a 1973 semi-biopic of Sheriff Buford Pusser, a former professional wrestler-turned-lawman in McNairy County, Tennessee. It starred Joe Don Baker as Pusser...
and its sequels were based on Pusser's war against the State Line Mob and other criminal elements.
State Line Mob is also a southern rock, country duo group from Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
. Their song titled "McNairy County Line" was written about Buford Pusser and the State Line Mob Outlaws of that era. The song can be found on their debut CD Ruckus.