James C. Bolton
Encyclopedia
James Calderwood Bolton was a prominent banker, civic leader, and Baptist
layman in Alexandria
, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana
.
and the former Mary Esther Calderwood. He was the brother of Robert Harvey Bolton
, also an Alexandria banker. Bolton was educated in public schools and the college preparatory Culver Military Academy in Culver
, Indiana
. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I
.
In 1920, Bolton received the Bachelor of Science
degree from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia
. Bolton was a member of the credit department of the National Bank of Commerce in New York City
from 1921-1922. He married the former Frances Sample (1902–1986), the daughter of Samuel Guy Sample and the former Sarah Emma McCrory of Shreveport
. The couple had two daughters, Mary Eleanor (born 1927) and Frances (born 1928). In 1951, Frances Bolton married the Alexandria orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Davis, Jr., (1919–2007).
Bolton joined his father's Rapides Bank and Trust Co. in Alexandria, since a part of Bank One Corporation
. He was an assistant cashier
from 1922–1925; vice-president, 1925–1936, and president, on his father's death, from 1936-1955. He was chairman of the board of directors from 1956 until his death.
Bolton was also director of the Delta Cotton Oil and Fertilizer Company in Jackson
, Mississippi
, and the chairman of the Louisiana Board of Public Welfare in the administrations of Governors Robert F. Kennon
(1952–1956) and James Houston "Jimmie" Davis
(1960–1964). He was the chairman of the Alexandria Civil Service
Commission from 1944-1970.
Bolton was instrumental in the founding of Louisiana State University at Alexandria
as a two-year college. Some four decades later, LSUA became a four-year degree-granting institution. The LSUA library bears his name. There is also a James C. Bolton Scholarship awarded to students in the field of business. Bolton was the president of the LSU Foundation from 1964-1965.
He was active in the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
, as president from 1930–1931, and as industrial development chairman from 1965 until his death. He was president of the Louisiana Bankers Association from 1933-1934. He was a member of the American Bankers Association and president of the state banking division in 1935.
An active member of the Baptist Church, Bolton served on the executive board of the Alexandria-based Louisiana Baptist Convention
from 1928-1953. He was president of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation from 1948-1959. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge
and the Kiwanis International.
He is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville
, across the Red River from Alexandria.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
layman in Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Early life and career
Bolton was born in Alexandria to James Wade BoltonJames W. Bolton
James Wade Bolton was a prominent banker, civic leader, and school board president in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana. Bolton High School in Alexandria is named in his honor. He was president of the Rapides Bank and Trust Company in Alexandria from...
and the former Mary Esther Calderwood. He was the brother of Robert Harvey Bolton
Robert H. Bolton
Robert Harvey Bolton, Sr. , was a prominent banker, civic leader, and Baptist layman in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish, in central Louisiana.-Early life:...
, also an Alexandria banker. Bolton was educated in public schools and the college preparatory Culver Military Academy in Culver
Culver, Indiana
Culver is a town in Marshall County, Indiana, United States. Culver is part of Union Township that also includes the communities of Burr Oak, Hibbard, Maxinkuckee and Rutland. The population was 1,353 at the 2010 census...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1920, Bolton received the Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Bolton was a member of the credit department of the National Bank of Commerce in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1921-1922. He married the former Frances Sample (1902–1986), the daughter of Samuel Guy Sample and the former Sarah Emma McCrory of Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. The couple had two daughters, Mary Eleanor (born 1927) and Frances (born 1928). In 1951, Frances Bolton married the Alexandria orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Davis, Jr., (1919–2007).
Bolton joined his father's Rapides Bank and Trust Co. in Alexandria, since a part of Bank One Corporation
Bank One Corporation
Some of the banks that were merged into these banks include:*Bank One**Security National Bank & Trust **Affiliated Bankshares of Colorado **American Fletcher Corp. **City National Bank and Trust Co...
. He was an assistant cashier
Cashier
Cashier is an occupation focused on the handling of cash money.- Retail :In a shop, a cashier is a person who scans the goods through a machine called a cash register that the consumer wishes to purchase at the retail store. After all of the goods have been scanned, the cashier then collects...
from 1922–1925; vice-president, 1925–1936, and president, on his father's death, from 1936-1955. He was chairman of the board of directors from 1956 until his death.
Bolton was also director of the Delta Cotton Oil and Fertilizer Company in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and the chairman of the Louisiana Board of Public Welfare in the administrations of Governors Robert F. Kennon
Robert F. Kennon
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary....
(1952–1956) and James Houston "Jimmie" Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
(1960–1964). He was the chairman of the Alexandria Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
Commission from 1944-1970.
Louisiana State University at Alexandria
Louisiana State University at Alexandria is located in Alexandria, Louisiana. Louisiana State University at Alexandria is a publicly supported institution that provides undergraduatelevel college education to the citizens of Central Louisiana. The university is a unit of the LSU System and operates...
as a two-year college. Some four decades later, LSUA became a four-year degree-granting institution. The LSUA library bears his name. There is also a James C. Bolton Scholarship awarded to students in the field of business. Bolton was the president of the LSU Foundation from 1964-1965.
He was active in the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, as president from 1930–1931, and as industrial development chairman from 1965 until his death. He was president of the Louisiana Bankers Association from 1933-1934. He was a member of the American Bankers Association and president of the state banking division in 1935.
An active member of the Baptist Church, Bolton served on the executive board of the Alexandria-based Louisiana Baptist Convention
Louisiana Baptist Convention
The Louisiana Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist churches in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Convention is composed of approximately 1,595 member congregations representing 869,490 members ....
from 1928-1953. He was president of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation from 1948-1959. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and the Kiwanis International.
He is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
, across the Red River from Alexandria.