james emory smitherman
James Emory Smitherman, 85, one
of Shreveport's oldest and best known citizens, died Wednesday at noon
following a lengthy illness.
While a distinguished member of the bar for over 50 years preceding his retirement, Mr. Smitherman's activities have covered a much wider scope connecting him with events that have shaped the material, social, political, religious and civic development of the city of Shreveport and the state.
Mr. Smitherman was born at Liberty Hill in Bienville Parish, Jan. 2, 1882, the son of Robert Grandison Smitherman and Ra- chael Roden Smitherman. He received his education in the lemenetary school of his boyhood home, Louisiana Polytechnic Institute at Ruston and his LLB degree at Louisiana State University. He was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 1909. Since that time he has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Louisiana, Supreme Court of the United States, United States Treasury Department and the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals.
Mr. Smitherman began his legal career in private practice in Baton Rouge in 1909, where he remained until 1914 at which time he rlocated in Shreveport. He maintained a private practice in Shreveport until 1918 at which time he became a partner in the firm of Thatcher and Smitherman. In 1920 he became the senior partner in the firm of Smitherman, Tucker and Mason. His firm in 1931 became Smither- man and Smitherman. At the time of his retirement from the active practice of law in the early '60's, he was a member of the firm of Smitherman, Smitherman, Purcell and Lunn.
In addition to this law practice, Mr. Smitherman was extensively engaged in the oil business. He was instrumental in the discovery and development of several large oil and gas producing properties in Northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas including the Haynesville oil field in Claiborne Parish. His earlier successes were in connection with the Pine Island field and the Homer field. He served on committees and with groups working toward equitable laws protecting natural resources. A spacing pattern governing the development of the Haynesville Field was set up as a result of his efforts.
Mr. Smitherman was highly interested in the affairs of this community, and had served on innumerable drives and boards. His great interest and his untiring labor and counsel helped bring into reality the construction of the Shreveport YMCA building. He was an active member of the "Y" for more than 40 years, serving as presi- dent of the local YMCA for 10 years, and was a member of the state executive committee; the international committee and the General Board having supervision over the affairs of the association through the nation. At the time of his death he was president emeritus of the YMCA. For 18 years Mr. Smitherman was a member of the Board of Supervisors of LSU, and was chairman of the board for four years. He was active in the planning and building of the library at the university and many other needed structures there.
Mr. Smitherman had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Shreveport since 1914, and a member of the Board of Deacons for over 40 years. When he first came to Shreveport he was one of the organizers of the Dodd Foundation promoting and building Dodd College. He served as chairman of its building committee and was one of its trustees and directors. He was chairman of the building com- mittee for the new First Baptist Church at Highand and Ockley, where his services will be held Friday.
Mr. Smitherman was active in the banking life of the cmmunity, having served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Continental Savings Bank and Trust Co., which later become the Continental-American Bank and more recently merged into the Commercial National Bank. He was a moving factor in the organization of the Louisiana Bank and Trust Co. where he served as a vice president and member of the Board of Direc- tors until he retired in 1962.
He was a member of the American, state and local bar association, and honorary member of the Phi Delta Phi law fraternity. He was a Mason and a member of the Shrine.
In 1910, James E. Smitherman married Ina Thompson Smither- man, and they were the parents of four sons, one of whom, Robert E. Smitherman, lost his life during World War II in military service. Mrs. Ina Smitherman died in 1946. He later married Mrs. Nellie Norton Smitherman, who survives him.
His three surviving sons are James E. Smitherman Jr., G. Scott Smitherman of Shreveport, and Eugene A. Smitherman of Houston, Tex., and 10 grandchildren. He was a member of a family of nine children and is survived by three brothers, David E. Smitherman, C. Boyd Smitherman and R. Gren Smith- erman, all of Shreveport, and one sister, Mrs. Eleanor Mather of Hattiesburg, Miss., and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services have been scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church with Dr. James Middleton, pastor, officiating., and burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery. Mr. Smitherman's body will lie in state at Osborn's Funeral Home until 10 a.m. Friday at which time his body will be moved to the First Baptist Church where it will lie in state in the parlor until the time of the services.
Pallbearers will be Herbert G. Purcell, A. J. Hodges Jr., Ray P. Oden Sr., Dr. John A. Hendrick, Mr. R. B. Williamson, Stuart Lunn, Joseph C. LeSage Jr., W. C. Rasberry, Mr. Richard W. Norton Jr. and William S. Evans. The family suggests that those interested in making memorial gifts may send them to the Shreveport YMCA or the Smitherman Memorial Library, First Baptist Church.
While a distinguished member of the bar for over 50 years preceding his retirement, Mr. Smitherman's activities have covered a much wider scope connecting him with events that have shaped the material, social, political, religious and civic development of the city of Shreveport and the state.
Mr. Smitherman was born at Liberty Hill in Bienville Parish, Jan. 2, 1882, the son of Robert Grandison Smitherman and Ra- chael Roden Smitherman. He received his education in the lemenetary school of his boyhood home, Louisiana Polytechnic Institute at Ruston and his LLB degree at Louisiana State University. He was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 1909. Since that time he has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Louisiana, Supreme Court of the United States, United States Treasury Department and the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals.
Mr. Smitherman began his legal career in private practice in Baton Rouge in 1909, where he remained until 1914 at which time he rlocated in Shreveport. He maintained a private practice in Shreveport until 1918 at which time he became a partner in the firm of Thatcher and Smitherman. In 1920 he became the senior partner in the firm of Smitherman, Tucker and Mason. His firm in 1931 became Smither- man and Smitherman. At the time of his retirement from the active practice of law in the early '60's, he was a member of the firm of Smitherman, Smitherman, Purcell and Lunn.
In addition to this law practice, Mr. Smitherman was extensively engaged in the oil business. He was instrumental in the discovery and development of several large oil and gas producing properties in Northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas including the Haynesville oil field in Claiborne Parish. His earlier successes were in connection with the Pine Island field and the Homer field. He served on committees and with groups working toward equitable laws protecting natural resources. A spacing pattern governing the development of the Haynesville Field was set up as a result of his efforts.
Mr. Smitherman was highly interested in the affairs of this community, and had served on innumerable drives and boards. His great interest and his untiring labor and counsel helped bring into reality the construction of the Shreveport YMCA building. He was an active member of the "Y" for more than 40 years, serving as presi- dent of the local YMCA for 10 years, and was a member of the state executive committee; the international committee and the General Board having supervision over the affairs of the association through the nation. At the time of his death he was president emeritus of the YMCA. For 18 years Mr. Smitherman was a member of the Board of Supervisors of LSU, and was chairman of the board for four years. He was active in the planning and building of the library at the university and many other needed structures there.
Mr. Smitherman had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Shreveport since 1914, and a member of the Board of Deacons for over 40 years. When he first came to Shreveport he was one of the organizers of the Dodd Foundation promoting and building Dodd College. He served as chairman of its building committee and was one of its trustees and directors. He was chairman of the building com- mittee for the new First Baptist Church at Highand and Ockley, where his services will be held Friday.
Mr. Smitherman was active in the banking life of the cmmunity, having served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Continental Savings Bank and Trust Co., which later become the Continental-American Bank and more recently merged into the Commercial National Bank. He was a moving factor in the organization of the Louisiana Bank and Trust Co. where he served as a vice president and member of the Board of Direc- tors until he retired in 1962.
He was a member of the American, state and local bar association, and honorary member of the Phi Delta Phi law fraternity. He was a Mason and a member of the Shrine.
In 1910, James E. Smitherman married Ina Thompson Smither- man, and they were the parents of four sons, one of whom, Robert E. Smitherman, lost his life during World War II in military service. Mrs. Ina Smitherman died in 1946. He later married Mrs. Nellie Norton Smitherman, who survives him.
His three surviving sons are James E. Smitherman Jr., G. Scott Smitherman of Shreveport, and Eugene A. Smitherman of Houston, Tex., and 10 grandchildren. He was a member of a family of nine children and is survived by three brothers, David E. Smitherman, C. Boyd Smitherman and R. Gren Smith- erman, all of Shreveport, and one sister, Mrs. Eleanor Mather of Hattiesburg, Miss., and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services have been scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church with Dr. James Middleton, pastor, officiating., and burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery. Mr. Smitherman's body will lie in state at Osborn's Funeral Home until 10 a.m. Friday at which time his body will be moved to the First Baptist Church where it will lie in state in the parlor until the time of the services.
Pallbearers will be Herbert G. Purcell, A. J. Hodges Jr., Ray P. Oden Sr., Dr. John A. Hendrick, Mr. R. B. Williamson, Stuart Lunn, Joseph C. LeSage Jr., W. C. Rasberry, Mr. Richard W. Norton Jr. and William S. Evans. The family suggests that those interested in making memorial gifts may send them to the Shreveport YMCA or the Smitherman Memorial Library, First Baptist Church.