By John Cofield

Oxford has produced many leaders, icons, and famous citizens. But some were…infamous!

Motee Daniels led a colorful life, to say the least. A Lafayette County native, Motee owned several businesses, including a general store and a roadhouse juke joint. But perhaps he is best known for being William Faulkner’s bootlegger and town character.

Daniels once ran for county coroner with the campaign slogan that he was the same, coming or going. Motee delighted in telling his stories to students and “Faulknerians”, visitors to Oxford he referred to as “foreigners.”