Mr.
Sherman was born in Columbia, LA on May 30, 1924 to
the union of Dr. Dollie Oliver and Zudie Jones Sherman.
Mr.
Sherman was currently mayor of Columbia. He has served
as mayor for 41 years, from 1964 to 1980 and 1984
until present. He is currently Louisiana's longest
serving mayor, hence, he is the "Dean of Louisiana
Mayors". He served for 8 years on the Columbia
Town Council. He served as president of the Louisiana
Municipal Association in 1968.
He
was a licensed Real Estate Broker for 40 years and
a Real Estate Appraiser of 15 years. He was a board
member for the National Association of Master Appraisers
from 1997 to 2003. He was active in municipal and
governmental affairs with board membership in Risk
Management, Inc. and the Louisiana Municipal Gas Authority.
He
participated in numerous LMA committees and task forces
throughout his years in public service. As LMA's longest-serving
past president still in municipal office he, for many
years, has had the privilege of reading the "LMA
Memorial Report" [a report of the deaths of Louisiana
mayors, municipal officials and other prominent publish
officials] at each year's annual convention.
Mr.
Sherman served in active duty from November 1942 until
March 1946. He was assigned to the 62nd Bomb Squadron,
as Central Fire Control Maintenance Mechanic. He served
in the Air Offensive Japan. He received the American
Theater Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
with 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Good Conduct Medals and a World
War II Victory Medal.
He
also served two terms on the Republican State Central
Committee.
He
was a Perpetual Member of Columbia Masonic Lodge,
#164, a Perpetual Member of Rosemary Lodge #278, a
member of the Monroe York Rites Bodies and a charter
member of Barak Shrine.
He
was a member of the Columbia Kiwanis Club since January
20, 1951 and served as president and on numerous committees.
Mr. Sherman was a member of the American Legion Louisiana
Post 162 for 59 years.
Sherman
married Geraldine Dunn together they had 3 sons, James,
Jr., Stephen and Thomas. and 2 step-children, Karen
and Reginald (from Geraldine's previous marriage)
and 11 grandchildren/step-children.