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'''Herman Farr''' (November 11, 1917 &ndash; June 6, 2008)<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=111278249|title=Rev. Herman Farr obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=June 10, 2008|accessdate=May 12, 2017}}</ref> was an [[African-American]] [[clergy]]man who was among the first three members of his race to serve on the city council in [[Shreveport]], the largest city in North [[Louisiana]]. Farr served a single four-year term from 1978 to 1982, under the single-member district mayor-council format, which that year replaced the former at-large city commission government. His black colleagues were Hilry Huckaby, Jr., and Gregory Tarver, later a member of the Louisiana State Senate for Caddo Parish.  

'''Herman Farr''' (November 11, 1917 &ndash; June 6, 2008)<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=111278249|title=Rev. Herman Farr obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=June 10, 2008|accessdate=May 12, 2017}}</ref> was an [[African-American]] [[clergy]]man who was among the first three members of his race to serve on the city council in [[Shreveport]], the largest city in North [[Louisiana]]. Farr served a single four-year term from 1978 to 1982, under the single-member district mayor-council format, which that year replaced the former at-large city commission government. His black colleagues were Hilry Huckaby, Jr., and Gregory Tarver, later a member of the Louisiana State Senate for Caddo Parish.  

The mayor during Farr's term on the council was William Thomas "Bill" Hanna (1930-2016). Former Mayor [[James C. Gardner]] was a member of the founding city council with Farr. In 1982, when John Brennan Hussey was elected mayor, Farr was defeated for reelection by a 2-1 margin by his fellow black Democrat, Joe Shyne, who in 2008 still represented historically black District E on the council.

The mayor during Farr's term on the council was[[Bill Hanna|William Thomas "Bill" Hanna, Jr.]] Former Mayor [[James C. Gardner]], who served from 1954 to 1958, was a member of the founding city council with Farr. In 1982, when John Brennan Hussey was elected mayor, Farr was defeated for reelection by a 2-1 margin by his fellow black Democrat, Joe Shyne, who in 2008 still represented historically black District E on the council.

Farr was a member and former president of the Shreveport chapter of the interest group, the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]], through which he vowed to fight for justice and [[civil rights]]. In his June 17 tribute to Farr, Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, the first African American to serve in the high executive position since [[Reconstruction]], said that Farr "never backed-down from a fight; he had a kind forgiving heart and a quick smile: He would be literally ready to go to war one minute, and a minute later he was all smiles. [He] never held a grudge. Shreveport has lost a great public servant. [His] life is worthy of emulation. He has set a very high bar for all citizens. ... In his youth, Farr was a boxer. He came to Shreveport in 1964 and was the pastor of the historically black Upper Zion and Oak Hill Baptist churches.<ref name=obit/> According to the archives of ''The Shreveport Times,'' Farr "quickly made his mark when he refused to go to the balcony — the [then] Negro section — at the Strand Theatre. He led his wife [Bruetta Dupree Farr] through the front door, and a policeman was called, but the officer stood back and watched. From then on, blacks sat downstairs in the [since restored and historic] movie theater.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forward-now.com/2015/03/07/making-shreveport-a-progressive-inclusive-and-great-city/|title=Making Shreveport a Progressive, Inclusive Great City|date=March 7, 2015|author=Willie Bradford|accessdate=May 12, 2017}}</ref>

Farr was a member and former president of the Shreveport chapter of the interest group, the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]], through which he vowed to fight for justice and [[civil rights]]. In his June 17 tribute to Farr, Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, the first African American to serve in the high executive position since [[Reconstruction]], said that Farr "never backed-down from a fight; he had a kind forgiving heart and a quick smile: He would be literally ready to go to war one minute, and a minute later he was all smiles. [He] never held a grudge. Shreveport has lost a great public servant. [His] life is worthy of emulation. He has set a very high bar for all citizens. ... In his youth, Farr was a boxer. He came to Shreveport in 1964 and was the pastor of the historically black Upper Zion and Oak Hill Baptist churches.<ref name=obit/> According to the archives of ''The Shreveport Times,'' Farr "quickly made his mark when he refused to go to the balcony — the [then] Negro section — at the Strand Theatre. He led his wife [Bruetta Dupree Farr] through the front door, and a policeman was called, but the officer stood back and watched. From then on, blacks sat downstairs in the [since restored and historic] movie theater.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forward-now.com/2015/03/07/making-shreveport-a-progressive-inclusive-and-great-city/|title=Making Shreveport a Progressive, Inclusive Great City|date=March 7, 2015|author=Willie Bradford|accessdate=May 12, 2017}}</ref>