James L Cathey, Jr. 1973-1977

James Cathey was born in Arcadia, Louisiana in 1919. His family moved to Bossier City in 1920. Cathey attended Centenary College and Kansas State Teachers College and served the nation as a United States Army Air Force bomber pilot in World War II, achieving rank of Lieutenant Colonel

Cathey joined the Bossier City police force in 1949 and became Bossier City’s first Police Lieutenant and ultimately became Chief of Police. He held that office for fifteen years and served as a Bossier Parish Deputy Sheriff for nine years. He became Bossier City Coordinator and was elected as Bossier City Mayor in 1973. It was during his chapter in the Mayor’s office that Louisiana Downs opened. This was a period of tremendous growth for Bossier City.

James Cathey spent a total of thirty years serving Bossier in City Hall. He is also well-remembered for his service to Bossier Parish. He was on the Bossier Caddo Safety Council, President of the Bossier Parish Chapter of the American Red Cross, member and onetime president of Bossier City Lions Club, and charter member and onetime director of Bossier Chamber of Commerce and the Bossier City Jaycees. Cathey was also Chairman of the Board of the Bossier Parish Council on Aging as well as a member of The Shriners. Mayor Cathey died 29 February 1996.

Sources:

• Eric Brock, “Seven Mayors Led Bossier’s Second Half-Century,” Shreveport Times, 5 December 1998, sec. A, 13.
• James L. Cathey, Jr. obituary, Bossier City, Louisiana, Shreveport Times, 3 March 1996, sec B, 3.