The Real Duke of Hazzard
Fasten your seatbelt for an uproarious ride with Jerry Rushing… the real Duke of Hazzard!
Jerry Elijah Rushing, a.k.a. “Snake,” is a legend in his own time. In his rebellious youth, he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and became a fearless bootlegger, running over two million gallons of bootleg whiskey and thriving on fast cars, high-speed chases, and death-defying altercations.
The wild experiences of Jerry Rushing’s life gave rise to The Dukes of Hazzard, the smash hit TV series that has become a phenomenon around the world.
But Jerry’s life was no comedy. He was filled with anger and desperation, yet he yearned for peace and purpose. Now he is born again, and eager to tell everyone what Christ has done in his life.
“Without Jesus Christ in your life, it doesn’t matter whether you are a moonshiner, bootlegger, or Sunday school teacher, your life will be hell and will be without the peace and joy that only Jesus can give.” —Jerry Rushing
“Michael Barnes’s The Real Duke of Hazzard is a wonderful contribution to the lore of Hazzard County. But it is more than a story of good ol’ boys, fast cars, and moonshining. It is the true story of Jerry Rushing, on whom our show was based. But it is also a story of the struggle of a man who won his life’s biggest battle, overcoming the demons within him and finding God right back at home, in the beautiful hills of North Carolina.”
—Ben “Cooter” Jones
“Jerry Rushing is an amazing man who has led an amazing life. Without him, John Schneider as “Bo Duke” never would have existed. Thanks for loaning me your life, Jerry!”
—John “Bo Duke” Schneider
Author Information: Michael D. Barnes is founder and CEO of Barnes Design Group, a Christian architectural firm specializing in church design. For over twenty-five years, he has served as a children’s pastor, evangelist, and church architect. Michael is also an avid outdoorsman, and it was during one of his many hunting trips that he met Jerry Rushing, the owner of Chestnut Hunting Lodge. Over the years, he and Jerry became close friends, and this book, The Real Duke of Hazzard, is an outgrowth of their friendship and their joint enthusiasm in sharing the gospel.
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