Dorsey Rosser
Dorsey Edward Rosser (1905-1986) was a Scott County lawman who served as sheriff on several occasions.
See Also: Sheriffs of Scott County
Preceded By: Frank Butler • Succeeded By: Frank Butler
Preceded By: Frank Butler • Succeeded By: Frank Butler
Preceded By: Frank Butler • Succeeded By: Jack Laxton
Early Life
Born Jan. 5, 1905, Rosser was the son of A.M. Rosser and Kenia Forbis. He was one of seven children. His sisters included Lona Phillips, Madge Rosser, Zona Price and Ruby Kidd, and his brothers were Archie Rosser and Devoe Rosser.
Rosser married Beatrice Shoopman (1908-1972) and they had four children: Mary Ella, born and died 1926; James Edward, born 1927; Jack Dorsey, born 1930; and Johnny Alfred, born 1934.
Following his wife’s death in 1972, Rosser remarried to Ruby Program Jeffers (1929-2022).
Sheriff of Scott County
Rosser served as a law enforcement officer for both the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Oneida Police Department, totaling more than 40 years in law enforcement. He served as Scott County Sheriff on several occasions.
Rosser was first elected in 1944, after Frank Butler was term-limited. Butler defeated him in the 1946 election. However, Butler did not run in 1948 after being wounded in a gun battle at a Winfield tavern. Rosser was elected and served a second two-year term. Butler was elected again in 1950.
After Butler was again term-limited in 1956, Rosser was elected. He was re-elected in 1958 and 1960. He could not run again in 1962 due to his own term limits. His wife, Beatrice, ran instead, but the election was won by Jack Laxton.
Shooting of Bates Pennycuff
On Sunday, July 23, 1950, Rosser shot 25-year-old Bates Pennycuff twice while Pennycuff resisted arrest. The incident occurred at the Rainbow Court, a tourist home south of Oneida. Rosser and Deputy Ernest Goad were arresting Pennycuff on a charge of public drunkenness. When he resisted, he was shot in the left side and the left shoulder. It was reported by the Knoxville Journal — and has remained a legend that is still told today — that Pennycuff coughed up a bullet from one of the wounds.
Pennycuff, a coal miner, was a reputed roughneck during his youth. However, he later converted at Mountain View Missionary Baptist Church, and went on to start the “Jesus Is Coming, RU Ready?” sign campaign that was very prominent in Scott County during the 1980s.
Death
Rosser died on June 9, 1986 at his home. He was 81. A funeral service was held at West-Murley Funeral Home in Oneida with Rev. David Walker and Rev. James E. Marcum officiating. Rosser was buried at the Smith-Forbis Cemetery in Oneida.
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