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| parents=Mr. and Mrs. James Cathey, Sr.​

| parents=Mr. and Mrs. James Cathey, Sr.​

| religion=[[United Methodist]]​}}​

| religion=[[United Methodist]]​}}​

 

'''James Leroy Cathey, Jr.''' (September 18, 1919 &ndash; February 29, 1996),<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85269862|title=James L. Cathey Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=March 1, 1996|accessdate=January 17, 2015}}</ref> was a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[politician]] who served from 1973 to 1977 as the tenth [[mayor]] of [[Bossier City]] in northwestern [[Louisiana]].  

'''James Leroy Cathey, Jr.''' (September 18, 1919 &ndash; February 29, 1996),<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85269862|title=James L. Cathey Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=March 1, 1996|accessdate=January 17, 2015}}</ref> was a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[politician]] who served from 1973 to 1977 as the tenth [[mayor]] of [[Bossier City]] in northwestern [[Louisiana]].  

An veteran of [[World War II]], Cathey joined the Bossier City Police Department and served as deputy chief and police chief for varying terms. He was highly active in civic organizations and on various boards.​

An veteran of [[World War II]], Cathey joined the Bossier City Police Department and served as deputy chief and police chief for varying terms. He was highly active in civic organizations and on various boards.​

 

==Background==

==Background==

 

Born in Arcadia in Bienville Parish, Cathey relocated in 1920, at the age of one year, with his parents to Bossier City, where he grew up and lived much of his life. After his primary education in local schools, he attended [[Methodist]]-affiliated Centenary College of Louisiana in [[Shreveport]] and Kansas State Teachers College, now known as Emporia State University in Emporia, [[Kansas]].<ref name=bio/>​

Born in Arcadia in Bienville Parish, Cathey relocated in 1920, at the age of one year, with his parents to Bossier City, where he grew up and lived much of his life. After his primary education in local schools, he attended [[Methodist]]-affiliated Centenary College of Louisiana in [[Shreveport]] and Kansas State Teachers College, now known as Emporia State University in Emporia, [[Kansas]].<ref name=bio/>​

In 1941, Cathey married the former Dorothy Louise Williams (1924-2006), the daughter of T. E. Williams, Sr., and the former Margaret Mullinax of Jefferson, [[Texas]]. The couple had three daughters: Sharon Louise (1942-2013) married Bobby Thorn and worked as a school bus driver, teacher, and social worker in [[Lake Charles]] and Benton, Louisiana,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?pid=164150157|title=Sharon Louise Cathey Thorn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=April 10, 2013|accessdate=November 10, 2019}}</ref> Karen (she married Fred Green of [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]]; and Kathe Newsome of Bossier City, who worked as an I. T. database administrator at Centenary College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centenary.edu/about/staff|title=Administrative Staff (Magale Library)|publisher=centenary.edu|accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=dlwc>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120287080|title=Dorothy Louise Williams Cathey|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=May 13, 2006|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref>​

In 1941, Cathey married the former Dorothy Louise Williams (1924-2006), the daughter of T. E. Williams, Sr., and the former Margaret Mullinax of Jefferson, [[Texas]]. The couple had three daughters: Sharon Louise (1942-2013) married Bobby Thorn and worked as a school bus driver, teacher, and social worker in [[Lake Charles]] and Benton, Louisiana,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?pid=164150157|title=Sharon Louise Cathey Thorn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=April 10, 2013|accessdate=November 10, 2019}}</ref> Karen (she married Fred Green of [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]]), and Kathe Newsome of Bossier City, who worked as an I. T. database administrator at Centenary College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centenary.edu/about/staff|title=Administrative Staff (Magale Library)|publisher=centenary.edu|accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=dlwc>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120287080|title=Dorothy Louise Williams Cathey|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=May 13, 2006|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref>​

Cathey served in both the [[United States Army]] and the [[United States Air Force]] during and after World War II. He was a bomber pilot during the war and subsequently attained the rank of [[lieutenant colonel]] in the Air Force. He was assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City.<ref name=bio/><ref>''The Shreveport Times'', April 13, 1969.</ref>​

Cathey served in both the [[United States Army]] and the [[United States Air Force]] during and after World War II. He was a bomber pilot during the war and subsequently attained the rank of [[lieutenant colonel]] in the Air Force. He was assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City.<ref name=bio/><ref>''The Shreveport Times'', April 13, 1969.</ref>​

 

Cathey and his wife were long active in the First [[United Methodist]] Church of Bossier City. He was a past chairman of the church board and the Council on Ministries. He also attended the annual statewide Methodist conference.<ref name=bio/><ref name=dlwc/>​

Cathey and his wife were long active in the First [[United Methodist]] Church of Bossier City. He was a past chairman of the church board and the Council on Ministries. He also attended the annual statewide Methodist conference.<ref name=bio/><ref name=dlwc/>​

In 1953, Chief Cathey reported the arrest of two members of the 10th Street Gang of [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]. Bossier City patrolman Jimmy Walker pursued a car which ran a stop light on East Texas Street. In the vehicle were Joe O'Toole, Dwain Fisher, and a hitchhiker, Reuben L. Bass, then twenty, of [[Georgia]]. O'Toole, eighteen years of age, was under a five-year suspended sentence in [[California]] for violation of two laws. He was also sought in Fort Worth for stealing an automobile. Fisher, seventeen, had spent time at a reform school in Gatesville, Texas, west of [[Waco, Texas|Waco]]. Bossier City authorities released Bass after questioning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfasu.edu/heritagecenter/9587.asp|title=1953 Capture of Notorious Gang Members|publisher=''Bossier City Planters' Press'' (defunct)|date=June 4, 1953|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}</ref>​

In 1953, Chief Cathey reported the arrest of two members of the 10th Street Gang of [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]. Bossier City patrolman Jimmy Walker pursued a car which ran a stop light on East Texas Street. In the vehicle were Joe O'Toole, Dwain Fisher, and a hitchhiker, Reuben L. Bass, then twenty, of [[Georgia]]. O'Toole, eighteen years of age, was under a five-year suspended sentence in [[California]] for violation of two laws. He was also sought in Fort Worth for stealing an automobile. Fisher, seventeen, had spent time at a reform school in Gatesville, Texas, west of [[Waco, Texas|Waco]]. Bossier City authorities released Bass after questioning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfasu.edu/heritagecenter/9587.asp|title=1953 Capture of Notorious Gang Members|publisher=''Bossier City Planters' Press'' (defunct)|date=June 4, 1953|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}</ref>​

 

Chief Cathey was known for strict enforcement of the blue laws, which then required many businesses to close at midnight Saturday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/195792095So2d825_1820|title=''Michael Theodos and Stork Club, Inc., v. Bossier City et al''|publisher=leagle.com|date=June 10, 1957|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}</ref> Cathey was a Bossier Parish deputy sheriff from 1957 to 1961 and 1970 to 1973 under Sheriff [[Willie Waggonner]]. He was the first juvenile officer of Bossier Parish.<ref name=bio/>

Chief Cathey was known for strict enforcement of the blue laws, which then required many businesses to close at midnight Saturday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/195792095So2d825_1820|title=''Michael Theodos and Stork Club, Inc., v. Bossier City et al''|publisher=leagle.com|date=June 10, 1957|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}</ref> Cathey was a Bossier Parish deputy sheriff from 1957 to 1961 and 1970 to 1973 under Sheriff [[Willie Waggonner]]. He was the first juvenile officer of Bossier Parish.<ref name=bio/>

In 1973, Cathey decided to enter electoral politics, running as a Democrat for mayor of Bossier City. On June 12, 1973, he narrowly defeated a [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Raymond Bun Statham (1924-2004), a retired [[United States Navy]] lieutenant.<ref>"Cathey defeats Statham", ''The Shreveport Times'', June 13, 1973, p. 1.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bossier.pastperfect-online.com/36091cgi/mweb.exe?request=record&id=28203183-1E6D-4B67-BD60-161027461347&type=102|title=Lt. Raymond Statham|publisher=Bossier.pastperfect-online.com|accessdate=January 18, 2015}}</ref>

In 1973, Cathey decided to enter electoral politics, running as a Democrat for mayor of Bossier City. On June 12, 1973, he narrowly defeated a [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Raymond Bun Statham (1924-2004), a retired [[United States Navy]] lieutenant.<ref>"Cathey defeats Statham", ''The Shreveport Times'', June 13, 1973, p. 1.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bossier.pastperfect-online.com/36091cgi/mweb.exe?request=record&id=28203183-1E6D-4B67-BD60-161027461347&type=102|title=Lt. Raymond Statham|publisher=Bossier.pastperfect-online.com|accessdate=January 18, 2015}}</ref>

In 1975, ''The Shreveport Times'' published a picture by its chief photographer, [[Henry Langston McEachern]] showing Mayor Cathey destroying a pinball machine confiscated from the Turf Lounge, one of the nightclubs of the former Bossier Strip,<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', January 7, 1975.</ref> known for its [[country music]]. The Strip was an entertainment district that flourished in the 20th century prior to the establishment of legal [[gambling]] and the construction of [[casino]]s along the Red River.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/1068|title=Shreveport Sounds in Black and White|author= Kip Lornell and Tracey E. W. Laird, eds.|page=288|isbn=9781934110416|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}</ref>

In 1975, ''The Shreveport Times'' published a picture by its chief photographer, [[Henry Langston McEachern]] showing Mayor Cathey destroying a pinball machine confiscated from the Turf Lounge, one of the nightclubs of the former Bossier Strip,<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', January 7, 1975.</ref> known for its [[country music]]. The Strip was an entertainment district that flourished in the 20th century prior to the establishment of legal [[gambling]] and the construction of [[casino]]s along the Red River.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/1068|title=Shreveport Sounds in Black and White|author= Kip Lornell and Tracey E. W. Laird, eds.|page=288|isbn=9781934110416|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}</ref>

In 1976, Cathey and neighboring Mayor [[Calhoun Allen|Littleberry Calhoun Allen, Jr.]], of Shreveport hosted [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]] in a question-and-answer session for local officials. Ford at the time was in Louisiana campaigning against former [[Governor]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]] for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/diary/pdd760427.pdf|title=The Daily Diary of President Gerald R. Ford|date=April 27, 1976|publisher=fordlibrarymuseum.gov|accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref>

In 1976, Cathey and neighboring Mayor [[Calhoun Allen|Littleberry Calhoun Allen, Jr.]], of Shreveport hosted [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]] in a question-and-answer session for local officials. Ford at the time was in Louisiana campaigning against former [[Governor]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]] for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/diary/pdd760427.pdf|title=The Daily Diary of President Gerald R. Ford|date=April 27, 1976|publisher=fordlibrarymuseum.gov|accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref>

Cathey did not seek a second term in office in 1977, when victory went to [[Marvin Anding]], another Democrat. Cathey died in Bossier City in 1996 at the age of seventy-six. He is interred alongside his wife at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport.<ref name=bio/><ref name=dlwc/>​

Cathey did not seek a second term in office in 1977, when victory went to [[Marvin Anding]], another Democrat. Cathey died in Bossier City in 1996 at the age of seventy-six. He is interred alongside his wife at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport.<ref name=bio/><ref name=dlwc/>​

 

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathey, James}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathey, James}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​