Jerry Rushing
Encyclopedia
Jerry Elijah Rushing is an American
best known for his years as a bootlegger
or "moonrunner" (moonshine
runner).
Rushing was born into a family business making illegal whiskey. As a young man he became a delivery driver, a job requiring late-night high-speed driving, often without headlights; for this he used a modified 1958 Chrysler 300D
capable of 140 mph (225 km/h) speeds, easily more than most police
vehicles, which he nicknamed Traveler (one L), after Robert E. Lee
's favorite horse Traveller
(two Ls). The car was eventually abandoned when it ran out of gas during a chase, sold from a police impound into the private collector's market, and has since been restored by Laurence Wolfel. Rushing eventually turned to a career in stock car racing
. Among the drivers he raced were Junior Johnson
, himself a former moonrunner, and Wendell Scott
. Rushing allegedly invented or perfected maneuvers known to stunt drivers today such as the "bootleg" or "180", which requires defeating the emergency brake ratchets in order to lock the wheels for a spin.
Doing research for a movie, producer Gy Waldron obtained an oral history
from Rushing. Waldron would later use these interviews, along with his own experiences growing up in Kentucky
, as material for the 1975 B-movie
Moonrunners
, and then as the basis for the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard
. Rushing was not credited for the biographical details he claims were recreated in both works, and sued for royalties, receiving an undisclosed settlement.
Rushing claims thirteen characters from the film or series were modeled on himself or people he knew, including:
Rushing performed stunt work
and appeared uncredited as Jake Rainey's bodyguard in Moonrunners
. He also had a cameo in an early episode of the TV series, as crooked used car salesman Ace Parker in the episode "Repo Men". Rushing had wanted the character to become recurring, but it was the only time the character was ever seen. This appearance led to a career as a minor character actor
, mainly playing rednecks, sheriffs, and truckers. With the release of the Dukes of Hazzard movie, Rushing has stepped up marketing for a self-produced documentary called Traveler.
Rushing owns and operates a wild boar hunting preserve near Taylorsville, North Carolina. The preserve is called the Chestnut Hunting Lodge, and is open for hunting year round.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
best known for his years as a bootlegger
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
or "moonrunner" (moonshine
Moonshine
Moonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
runner).
Rushing was born into a family business making illegal whiskey. As a young man he became a delivery driver, a job requiring late-night high-speed driving, often without headlights; for this he used a modified 1958 Chrysler 300D
Chrysler 300 letter series
The Chrysler 300 "letter series" were high-performance luxury cars built in very limited numbers by the Chrysler Corporation in the U.S. from 1955-1965...
capable of 140 mph (225 km/h) speeds, easily more than most police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
vehicles, which he nicknamed Traveler (one L), after Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's favorite horse Traveller
Traveller (horse)
Traveller was Confederate General Robert E. Lee's most famous horse during the American Civil War.-Birth and war service:...
(two Ls). The car was eventually abandoned when it ran out of gas during a chase, sold from a police impound into the private collector's market, and has since been restored by Laurence Wolfel. Rushing eventually turned to a career in stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
. Among the drivers he raced were Junior Johnson
Junior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
, himself a former moonrunner, and Wendell Scott
Wendell Scott
Wendell Oliver Scott was an American stock car racing driver from Danville, Virginia. He is the only black driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. According to a 2008 biography of Scott, he broke the color barrier in Southern stock car racing on May 23, 1952, at the Danville...
. Rushing allegedly invented or perfected maneuvers known to stunt drivers today such as the "bootleg" or "180", which requires defeating the emergency brake ratchets in order to lock the wheels for a spin.
Doing research for a movie, producer Gy Waldron obtained an oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
from Rushing. Waldron would later use these interviews, along with his own experiences growing up in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, as material for the 1975 B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
Moonrunners
Moonrunners
Moonrunners is a 1975 film starring James Mitchum, and the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Mitchum had co-starred with his famous father, Robert Mitchum, in the similar drive-in favorite Thunder Road eighteen years earlier, which also focused upon moonshine-running bootleggers...
, and then as the basis for the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
. Rushing was not credited for the biographical details he claims were recreated in both works, and sued for royalties, receiving an undisclosed settlement.
Rushing claims thirteen characters from the film or series were modeled on himself or people he knew, including:
- He was the inspiration for Bo DukeBo DukeBeauregard "Bo" Duke is a fictional character in the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, which ran from 1979 to 1985. He was played by John Schneider. The name of Beauregard may have been chosen after the famous Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard.Bo and his cousin Luke Duke live in...
- His Uncle Worley was the inspiration for Uncle JesseUncle JesseUncle Jesse may refer to any of several fictional characters, including:* Jesse Duke, a character from the TV series and movie The Dukes of Hazzard* Jesse Katsopolis, from the television series Full House...
- His car Traveler was the inspiration for the General Lee
Rushing performed stunt work
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
and appeared uncredited as Jake Rainey's bodyguard in Moonrunners
Moonrunners
Moonrunners is a 1975 film starring James Mitchum, and the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Mitchum had co-starred with his famous father, Robert Mitchum, in the similar drive-in favorite Thunder Road eighteen years earlier, which also focused upon moonshine-running bootleggers...
. He also had a cameo in an early episode of the TV series, as crooked used car salesman Ace Parker in the episode "Repo Men". Rushing had wanted the character to become recurring, but it was the only time the character was ever seen. This appearance led to a career as a minor character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
, mainly playing rednecks, sheriffs, and truckers. With the release of the Dukes of Hazzard movie, Rushing has stepped up marketing for a self-produced documentary called Traveler.
Rushing owns and operates a wild boar hunting preserve near Taylorsville, North Carolina. The preserve is called the Chestnut Hunting Lodge, and is open for hunting year round.