NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Country Music legend Johnny Cash is known for his music, but on Tuesday, Johnny Cash Museum founder Bill Miller was presented the recently discovered archive of the Deputy Sheriff Commission Card presented to Cash in 1979 that gave Cash the ability to maintain the peace and dignity of Davidson County, and gave Cash arrest powers.
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall presented a photo of the card to Miller. The card features Cash's photo, fingerprint, and signature and was presented to Cash by then Davidson County Sheriff Fate Thomas.
Sheriff Hall said a photographer happened to find the photo while going through the department's archives, and Cash may have taken the picture of it himself.
Johnny Cash's Davidson County Deputy Sheriff Commission Card states the following: "By virtue of the power vested in me as Sheriff of Davidson County under the laws of Tennessee, I have this day deputized John R. Cash a Deputy Sheriff to execute any and all processes that may come into his hands and to maintain the peace and dignity of the State, and arrest any and all persons violating the Criminal laws of the State of Tennessee."
The artifact will become part of the collection at the Johnny Cash Museum, showing some of the many parts of Cash's life that went beyond the music.
Still, 1979 was a big year for the "Man in Black" in his music career with the recording of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."
The Johnny Cash Museum is located at 119 Third Avenue South between Demonbreun and Broadway and is open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
