Parker was 9th black Republican House member
There’s been some discussion from posters about whether former Rep. Sherman Parker, who died suddenly this week, was the first black Republican to serve in the House.
Parker was one of three black Republican legislators in the last 60 years and the ninth since 1921. Here is the list as compiled by a House staffer.
Walthall M.Moore 1921-30 St. Louis City 6th District
John A. Davis 1927-28 St. Louis City 3rd District
L. Amasa Knox 1929-30 Jackson County 4th District
Frank W. Clegg 1931-32 St. Louis City 3rd District
J. Claybourne Bush 1947-48 St. Louis City 17th District
Josiah C. Thomas 1947-48 St. Louis City 10th District
Stephen C. Banton 1977 1982-90 St. Louis County 94th District
Carson Ross 1988-01 Jackson County 55th Distrct
Sherman Parker 2002-06 St. Charles County 12th District
As tributes to Parker continue to pour in, former Sen. Jim Talent had this to say in an interview:
Talent said that when he served in the U.S. House, Parker was an assistant in the St. Louis district office. Parker worked mainly on “empowerment issues” aimed at rebuilding the urban core.
“He helped me get input from people here about the community renewal act we passed,” Talent said. “That was really his passion. He grew up in those neighborhoods and never forgot them.
“Sherman just had a big heart. He was a friendly guy. He liked all different kinds of people. He could empathize with people from whatever situation in life,” Talent said.
You missed Ted Hoskins, or is he still claiming to be a Democrat?
Too the previous poster; don’t use this forum for your political BS to talk smack on Hoskins, Hubbard, or any of the other independant-minded black democrats that have the courage to challenge the status-quo of how governemnt responds problems within their community. Take it somewhere else, this is a forum to remember our friend.
Wow, that’s terrible news. Sherman Parker was a very honorable and decent man and will be missed by many. Even us union guys. Sorry to see someone so talented leave this earth so early. Bubba
Sherman Parker, my ‘lil Brother, my friend, I never have met a brother, so up close and personal, that loved the crazy life of politics as much as Sherman Thompson Parker. He was a torch, a firestarter. He was his own man, a man’s man, a leader. He was not a “Yes” man. He followed his own heart and desires. He had his own plan. I met Sherman Parker in 2002 when the Boone CO Republican Party came after me to run for State Representative. Sherman, packed up “His Boyz” and came to Columbia and knocked on doors and worked hard on my campaign. Encouraging me every step of the way. I didn’t win the political race, but came out the winner anyway…I had Sherman Parker as a friend…just talked to him last week…we kept it real in our communication.
He loved his daughter, Alexandra…please support her and her family by donating to her college fund.
Republican politics will not be the same without him stirring things up! I miss you, Sherman! God bless your family and close friends.