Sam Caldwell
American politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Samuel Caldwell (disambiguation).
Samuel Shepherd Caldwell (November 4, 1892 ā August 14, 1953), was a Louisiana oilman and politician who served as mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1934 to 1946.[1]
Quick Facts Samuel Shepherd Caldwell, Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana ...
Samuel Shepherd Caldwell | |
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Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana | |
In office 1934ā1946 | |
Preceded by | George W. Hardy, Jr. |
Succeeded by | Clyde Fant |
Personal details | |
Born | (1892-11-04)November 4, 1892 Mooringsport, Louisiana, US |
Died | August 14, 1953(1953-08-14) (aged 60) Shreveport, Louisiana |
Political party | Democratic Party |
Spouse | Anna Pauline Owen Caldwell (married 1914-1953, his death) |
Children | Betty Ann Caldwell Morgan Burke |
Residence(s) | Shreveport, Louisiana |
Alma mater | Louisiana Tech University |
Occupation | Oilman |
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Caldwell was an unusually staunch segregationist even for the era in the Deep South. In 1943, Caldwell chose to turn down $67,000 in federal funds for a new medical center because it would have required hiring 12 blacks out of every 100 workers.[2] (Shreveport was 37% African American in the 1940 census.)[3] "We are not going to be bribed by federal funds," Caldwell explained, "to accept the negro as our political or social equal"; federal officials would not "cram the negro down our throats."[2]