Thomas Hickman

Thomas Hickman, known as Tom Hickman (November 4, 1872 – February 28, 1950), was from 1925 to 1937 the mayor of Bossier City, the sister city of Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana. A Democrat, Hickman was the fifth mayor of Bossier City since its incorporation in 1907.^[1] Hickman succeeded G. B. Smith, who had served a single term from 1921 to 1925.^[2] ​

Biography[edit]

Hickman was born in rural Fillmore, Louisiana in eastern Bossier Parish to William James Hickman (1830-1900) and the widow, Mary Jane McDade Barnett (died 1902). He and his brother, W. B. Hickman (born 1860), worked with their father in the operation of the Red Chute Plantation in the census designated place of Red Chute, also in Bossier Parish. In 1892, at least one hundred acres of their crops were flooded. After the parents' deaths, W. B. Hickman ran the family farm, and Thomas Hickman was employed by the Foster Plantation before he moved by 1910 into Bossier City.^[3]

In 1902, Thomas Hickman married the former Della Hickson (born c. 1880), the daughter of the Reverend J. M. Hickson and his wife, Dora (born c. 1858). Thomas and Della had one daughter, Jessie, who later married Charles Kyzar (both born 1907).^[4] The Kyzars had two children, the Hickmans' grandchildren. Once in Bossier City, Hickman engaged in real estate and the mercantile business. From 1913 to 1917, he was the postmaster in the Allendale neighborhood in Shreveport. He was active in the Masonic lodge and the Methodist Church.^[1]​

Hickman became mayor two years after the community was changed from a village to a town.^[5] On June 23, 1925, shortly after Hickman had been mayor, a fire destroyed about a third of Bossier City, with damage in excess of $100,000, a then significant loss representing 1.46 million in 2019 dollars. Mayor Hickman's feed barn and store were destroyed. The fire was not quickly curtailed because Bossier City had no municipal fire department. The city instead waited for assistance from Shreveport firefighters, who had to cross the Red River to reach the blaze. During his tenure as mayor, Hickman obtained approval of ordinances to establish the first city water system and a non-volunteer fire department.^[1]

On November 13, 1926, Mayor Hickman oversaw the laying of the cornerstone of the first brick city hall for Bossier City. On May 19, 1927, Hickman presided at the dedication of the city hall, with remarks by Hickman's father-in-law, the Reverend Hickson. The piano was played by the mayor's wife, Della. In 1928, Bossier City poured its first concrete road. The first city park opened in 1937, as Hickman turned over the office to Hoffman Lee Fuller.^[1]

References[edit]

​​​