James P. Humphrey On March 1, 1834, the state of Ohio passed legislation incorporating Sidney as a city and provided for the election of the new city’s first mayor. James P. Humphrey, a proud descendant of Randolph slaves, No. 421 Carter (Lee) and his wife No. 422 Pheobe, was born in New Bern, just outside Sidney, in 1921. As a lifelong resident he has striven diligently, giving time and money, to preserve the gallant and tragic saga of the Randolph slaves. While the slaves’ heritage is alive today in many of Sidney’s black citizens, Humphrey’s countless lectures and presentations to community groups has brought this remarkable story to the attention of many people throughout the area, reinforcing its importance as an integral part of Shelby County’s local history. |
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| A native of Sidney, Jim attended Morris
Brown College, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and received a degree from
Central State College in Physiatrics. A W.W.II veteran, Jim served in city government for
12 years — as councilman-at large, vice mayor and finally retiring as (Sidney’s
first black) Mayor in December, 1987. Employed at Amos
Press as Community Relations Director, he retired in August, 1987, with nearly 30
years of service. A deacon of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church for over 40 years, Jim has been
involved in countless community organizations such as the Salvation Army, NAACP and the Sunset Kiwanis. He was selected for inclusion in "Who’s
Who Among Black Americans" and was honored in 1987 with the establishment of a
scholarship fund in his name. The James P. Humphrey Scholarships are awarded each year to
black Shelby County students as incentives for achievement. He has earned countless honors
and awards, including Black Mayor of the Year for Ohio, Sidney’s Black Achiever of
the Year, Man of the Year, Outstanding Senior Citizen in Shelby County, etc.
Jim is married to Louise (Strickland Lloyd) and is
the father of six children and six step-children. From slave descendant to city councilman
in 1976, and from councilman to Sidney’s mayor in 1981, Humphrey speaks proudly of
his accomplishments from 1981 to 1987 as Sidney’s first black mayor.
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