Growing up in Searcy County I have heard numerous stories about Buster Scott! My grandparents, parents, and other family members have shared their recollections of him when I was a young child. (just turned 41!)

Buster wore a size 42 shoe! You can visit the Searcy County Library and actually seen one of his shoes! I wear a size 9 in women! One article I it said at age 26 Buster was 6 foot tall and weighed in at 170 lbs. The first image is the shoe I was wearing today verses the shoe there!

Buster was born in Snowball, Arkansas on January 11, 1911, to James T. Scott and Dora Ellen Holsted. I guess he lived in the Calf Creek Township for about 10 years, from what I gather.

Buster passed away in February 25, 1987 (age 76) in Marshall, AR according to find-a-grave. He is buried in the Whisenant Cemetery in Snowball, Arkansas.

Dad recalls that he had big feet! lol, that is a given. He also said he thought he toured with carnivals for a time! He also said he ran “foot races”! Maybe this is why when the Richland Crew gets together, they want to run “foot races”! It is also rumored that at short distances he could outrun a horse!

It was also said that he was an outstanding swimmer! There is still so much more that we may never know about Buster Scott!

I remember the “bigfoot” tales! That he would run through the woods and leave barefoot marks along the way. I remember Julie telling me a story about seeing foot tracks along the creek and thinking it was a big animal. Judy- says” he had big feet, I never really knew him.”

There is an article I found online from The Coshocton Tribune by Watt Extremities NES (Service Phenomena Editor) about Buster. SEE PHOTO OF ARTICLE! it was dates Sunday, December 25, 1938. From Coshocton, Ohio.

It read: Snowball, Ark- Here are the biggest feet in the world – in the opinion of the fellow who pushes them up and down it the Alps of Searcy County, Ark. Buster Scoot (Scott) is the name and 26 summers and winters have passed since he first planted these phenomena on the rocky soil of his home state.

A traveling salesman with an eye for big problem has estimated that Buster would wear a size 43 shoe. Truth is Buster gets his shoes from a man here in Snowball, Ark. which is just five miles from the flinty acreage of the Scoot family.

There are four stores, a black smith shop and a hitching rail in Snowball, and Buster doesn’t say whether he gets his shoes at the store or at a blacksmith shop. The Scoot scion has no scientific explanation for the size of his feet, “They just growed that way”, he says

But he has high hopes and aspirations for them the next two years. At the end of that time he wants to return to Searcy County for the squirrel hunting.

In the meantime, he would like to exhibit his pair of pedals at both the New York and San Francisco expositions, thereby giving people at both ends of the nation an opportunity to educate themselves on what can be done with a pair of feet in Arkansas.

Buster also hopes to add a little something to the Scoot pocketbook, for the possible purchase of new shoes and other incidentals.

Five generations of the Scoots live in Searcy County and Buster isn’t sure how many earlier generations lived there.

Buster was 6-foot-3 and weight 170.

He can run faster than most men, jump as high as any normal person and claims he “can jig-dance with the best of them”.

The article printed Scoot for the last name instead of Scott. The jig is a form of lively fold dance in the compound metre, as well as accompanying a dance tune. It first gained popularity in the 16th-centruy.

Regardless of where he got his shoes, Buster made history. I am sure I am not alone in hearing stories as a child about him! If you have stories, please comment and share them!

Until next time- run that foot race- love, Cassie