Mr. Dean was an Arkansas native and World War II veteran who taught in the Caddo Parish School System for 25 years - the vast majority of that time at Oil City High School (later Junior High). His genial demeanor made him popular among many students. A loyal supporter of his adopted hometown of Ida, Louisiana; he became the community's first mayor and brought about several improvements to the quality of life of its residents during his 33-year tenure in that capacity.
Early Life
Early Life
He was born 29-June-1924 to Sidney Alexander and Maggie Victoria Christie Dean. The 1930 U. S. Census listed the family as residents of Roane Township, in the vicinity of the town of Bradley, in Lafayette County, Arkansas. Included were siblings Dell, Leo, Iris (all older); and Christie (younger). He was listed as "Sid, Jr." which was either an incorrect assumption by the census taker or perhaps he later chose not to go by. The elder Sid (Senior or not) died in 1934 in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
Young Sid was mentioned participating in a "playlet" put on during a meeting of the Ida school Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in February 1938.
Times 13-Feb-1938, Page 35
In the 1940 census he (again identified as "Sid, Jr."), mother Maggie, and younger sister Christie were residents of Caddo Parish Ward 9, that includes the settlement of Ida. They were noted to also have resided at that place in 1935.
Having turned 18, he registered for the draft in June 1942.
He was still in high school at that time, as he was later mentioned participating in the 1942 Ida High School Christmas program.
Times 20-Dec-1942, Page 4
He enlisted in the U. S. Army 19-Feb-1943. Per his obituary (see at bottom), he served with the 785th Tank Battalion during World War II. Below, Mr. Dean was identified among soldiers returning from the Pacific after WWII.
Shreveport Times 19-Feb-1946, Page 4
Back in civilian life, Mr. Dean enrolled at Northwestern State College (later University) in Natchitoches, Louisiana; and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in the spring of 1949. He later earned a Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
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| Sid A. Dean graduating from NSC (1949) |
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Teaching Career
Later that year he was named to the Oil City High School faculty.
Times 04-Sep-1949, Page 8
A newly-minted OCHS social studies teacher.
1950 Oil City High School Bengal (yearbook)
He took a leave from teaching during the 1951-1952 school year to complete additional military training. By this time he had earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant.
Times 20-May-1951, Page 42
He was involved in a lawsuit resulting from an automobile wreck where he had swerved to avoid, but hit a cow in the highway. It was stated he received multiple injuries including damaged vertebrae. Note the stated lawsuit amount is the equivalent of $292, 600 today.
Opelousas (LA) Daily World 30-Jan-1955, Page 28
During the 1956-1957 school year, he acted as host of a "This Is Your Life" program held for William F. Bozeman; who at the time had completed 30 years as teacher, coach, and principal.
Below, Mr. Dean during the 1959-1960 school year.
Mr. Dean wed the former Katherine Ponder in Aug-1962.
Marshall (TX) Messenger 12-Aug-1962, Page 18
22-Nov-1963 - Some former students may recall that it was Mr. Dean who first informed the school that President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, then later that he had died. Many, including this writer, spent the rest of the afternoon watching a black & white portable television in his classroom, as news of the incredible and tragic event unfolded.
In Jun-1964, Mr. and Mrs. Dean became proud parents of twin daughters - Adonna Fay and Amelia Kay. Sadly Adonna, just shy of 14 months old, died after a brief illness the following year. She is buried in Bethsaida Cemetery in Ida.
Hometown Mayor
In 1967 he was among a group of Ida residents petitioning Lousisian Governor John J. McKeithen to formally incorporate the community as a "village."
Times 16-Jan-1967, Page 4-C
That request was granted and the "village" of Ida formally established. Mister Dean was appointed its first mayor, a position he would hold for the next 33 years.
Times 20-May-1967, Page 8-A
Below, the first mayor and aldermen of the village of Ida are sworn in.
Times 23-May-1967, Page 4-A
Later that year he was among North Caddo area mayors endorsing Don Williamson of Vivian for state representative.
Times 01-Nov-1967, Page 10-A
An early step taken was acquisition of a building to serve as Ida's first city hall.
Times 06-Dec-1967, Page 10-A
In 1968, he ran unopposed in the first mayoral election - a feat that was repeated seven more times (1972,1976, 1980, 1984,1988, 1992, and 1996).
Times 01-Jul-1968, Page 5-A
Not the best quality photo, but one that shows the inaugural group of elected Ida officials.
Times 02-Jul-1968, Page 8-A
An early action was to request funds from the Caddo Parish Police Jury for fire fighting equipment to be used by a planned-to-be-established volunteer fire department. Below, Mr. Dean demonstrates a chemical fire extinguisher included with other tools on Ida's then new fire truck.
Times 28-Jul-1968, Page 3-C
The 1968-1969 school year was Mr. Dean's last at Oil City. Pictured with him is another long-time teacher, Mrs. Harriet Milford Cook. Ethel Francis (later Haughton) would later become school principal.
1969 Bengal
Pictured below with participants in the 1969 Spelling Bee, which he sponsored.
1969 Bengal
In addition to mayor, he also served as president of a nonprofit group whose goal was to bring low-rent housing to Ida.
Times 22-Feb-1969, Page 4-D
Several months later, their goal was near completion.
Times 27-Jul-1969, Page 20-A
Court-ordered desegregation, combined with an overall decline in enrollment, prompted the proposed closing of selected schools, including the one in Ida. Mayor Dean and other civic leaders launched opposition that was ultimately to no avail.
Times 20-Jul-1969, Page 5-A
His mother, Mrs. Maggie Dean, passed away in Apr-1970.
While campaigning to become the Democrat Party gubernatorial candidate in 1972, U.S. Congressman and future Louisiana Chief Executive Edwin Edwards promised the village a traffic light, if elected.
.
Times 26-Jan-1972, Page 4-A
Below, the Ida town hall and library.
Google Street View (Mar-2014)
Once elected governor, Edwards fulfilled his promise.
Times 22-Jun-1972, Page 11-A
Ironically, the community did not support Edwards in either the primary and general election, voting for opponent J. Bennett Johnston in the former, and Republican Dave Treen in the latter; both by wide margins.
That light, or a replacement, is still in operation over 45 years later.
Google Street View Apr-2016 (looking north)
He retired from the Caddo Parish School System in 1974. Later he served as president of Caddo Community School, opened in the fall of 1970 in what had been the Ida High/Jr.High School. Of note, the "principle" was long-time North Caddo agriculture teacher, Tolly H. Burns. (Whoever prepared the advertisement might want to brush up on their spelling.)
Times 31-Aug-1977, Page 2-B
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| Caddo Community School (formerly Ida High/Jr. High School), later demolished |
A 1986 article about offices used by mayors of towns large-and-small in the Ark-La-Tex included the following about the one used by Mayor Dean.
Times 16-Feb-1986, Page 1E
Mayor Dean presided over the dedication of Means Civic Center in 1987. It was so named to honor early residents and their contributions to the community.
Times 30-Aug-1987, Page 9E
An October 1991 feature in the Shreveport Times highlighted Mr. Dean's accomplishments as Ida mayor.
Times 16-Oct-1991, Page 1N
For the first time since its incorporation, Ida had a new mayor when local Methodist pastor Jerry Means assumed the duties in 2000.
Times 10-Feb-2003, Page 4B
Interment: Bethsaida Cemetery; Ida, LA
Mrs. Katherine Dean passed away in 2004 and is buried next to her husband.
