Herman Sharp Vickers

Herman Sharp Vickers, 92, of Dumas, passed away Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011. Herman was born in Ingalls, Ark., on April 26, 1918, to Grady and Virginia Sharp Vickers. In addition to his parents, Herman was preceded in death by his first wife, Annie Belle Nixon Vickers, who died July 13, 1984, at age 66; his second wife, Betty Simpson Vickers, who died May 31, 2001, at age 72; a great-grandson, Adam Vickers; a step-son, Jerry Wilson; a brother, George Thomas Vickers; and two brothers-in-law, Hauhon Gorman and John Morgan. He survived by four sons, David (Vicki) Wilson of Dallas, Texas, Jay Wright (Teri) Wilson of Richardson, Texas, Jerrel (Jean) Vickers of Rochester Hills, Mich., and Gerry (Ina) Vickers of Dumas; one daughter, Ann (Lonnie) Johnston of North Little Rock; his sister-in-law, Julia Gillespie of Dumas; three brothers, Frank (Mary) Vickers of Dumas, Dan (Joyce) Vickers of Ingalls and Bobby (Sue) Vickers of Crossett; four sisters, Florence Gorman of El Dorado, Christine Morgan of Fordyce, Margie (Perry) Dubose of Elmhurst, Ill., Doris (Tom) Glasgow of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Christine Nixon Nicholson of Los Banos, Calif.; and countless nieces and nephews. Herman moved to McGehee in 1937 and worked for Selman Grocery before being employed as a fireman then and engineer for Missouri-Pacific Railroad. He sold Fords, GMCs and Pontiacs in his off time for Taylor Prewitt and Woodrow Rial Motors before coming to Dumas in 1960 to go into the Chevrolet auto business. Vickers Chevrolet Co., Inc. served Dumas and Desha County for 43 years and two months (1960-2003). During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. He is a 65-year member of the American Legion. Herman also served as president of the board of directors of Walnut Lake Country Club, the board of directors of Dumas State Bank and Simmons First Bank of Dumas. He was appointed State Democratic Party Representative of District 4 in 1974, and was a member of former Sen. David Pryor's Finance Committee, also working on the Pryor congressional, gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns. A past chairman of Southeast Arkansas Ducks Unlimited, he was also co-chairman of the Dumas Industrial Development Committee. Herman was a loving son to his parents, visiting them often. He was extremely fond of his siblings, and their gatherings were huge events with lots of love and fine food. Herman was a golfer and avid duck hunter who often bragged he tried not to miss a day during duck season. He was surrounded constantly by a host of friends who shared his zest for life. Dinner parties at his home were a delight. Countless young people found employment and built their lives in Dumas because of citizens like Herman who donated the funds to to build spec buildings to attract industry, volunteering their time to court industries and selling the story of Dumas to strangers who then came and set up shop. He also donated funds to build the medical complex clinic, and gave to every library, community, school and county project presented to him. He was always ready to take an active role in cooking for the Lions Club and his church. Former president of Vickers Chevrolet, Inc., in Dumas he is a former president of the Dumas Lions Club and Dumas Chamber of Commerce and worked for the development of industry and the building of the Southeast Arkansas Medical Center in Dumas. He also served as regional (southeast Arkansas) vice president of the Arkansas Auto Dealers Association and was a member of the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission for eight years. In 1980, he was chosen as the TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award winner, one of 70 dealers honored across the nation. He also served as a member of the Desha County Public Facilities Board. For his civic leadership, Herman was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Dumas Lions Club and was later cited by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Community Development Program as an outstanding leader in the state. In 1987, he was named Ding Dong Daddy for the annual Ding Dong Days Festival. He was also a strong supporter of the Dumas Lions Club Baseball-Softball program at Memorial Park, where one of the playing fields bears his name. Visitation will be Monday, 5-7 p.m. at Griffin Funeral Home Chapel and services will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 11 a.m. and graveside services at Union Hill Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. in Ingalls (Bradley County) with arrangements by Griffin Funeral Home of Dumas. Memorials in Herman's name may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Dumas or to the Delta Area Community Foundation.