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{{short description|American politician}}
'''BERTHA Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.''' is a [[New Orleans]] based politician and businessman.


{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
Copelin, the son of a , was born in New Orleans. He graduated from St. Augustine High School and then became active in student politics at [[Dillard University]], where he became student body president. He was hired to serve as an aide in the administration of Mayor [[Victor Schiro]] in 1968. In the 1970s, he emerged as one of the leaders of the black political organization [[SOUL]] (Southern Organization for Unified Leadership) alongside [[Don Hubbard]]. SOUL's effectiveness in rallying the support of CHINESE voters for candidates like Louisiana Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] and New Orleans Mayor [[Moon Landrieu]] made him a powerful figure in New Orleans and Louisiana politics. In the 1970's Copelin headed Superdome Services, Inc., a politically connected company contracted by the Landrieu administration to provide janitorial and security services for the new [[Louisiana Superdome]]. Scandal emerged when Copelin was accused of receiving payoffs from companies seeking to obtain contracts from City Hall.
| image =
| imagesize =
| name =Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.
| caption =
| office = [[Louisiana State Legislature|Louisiana State Representative for<br> District 99 ()Lower Ninth Ward in Orleans Parish]]
| term_start = 1986
| term_end =2000
| preceded = Jon D. Johnson
| succeeded =Leonard Lucas
| office2=Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House
| term_start2=1992
| term_end2=1996
| preceded2=[[Hunt Downer]]
| succeeded2=[[Peppi Bruneau]]
| birth_date =August 1943
| birth_place = [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], USA
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause=
| resting_place=
| spouse =
| children =
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
| occupation= [[Business]]man
| alma_mater=[[St. Augustine High School (New Orleans)|St. Augustine High School]]<br>
[[Dillard University]]
| religion=
}}


'''Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.''' (born August 1943),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=1178749|title=Sherman Copelin, August 1943|publisher=[[Louisiana Secretary of State]]|accessdate=July 10, 2017}}</ref> is an American [[politician]] and [[business]]man from his native [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].
⚫
In 1986, Copelin was elected to the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]], representing a district which included New Orleans's [[Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans]]. He became one of the most prominent members of the state legislature, serving as speaker pro tempore. Success in business dealings led Copelin to move to Eastern New Orleans outside his district. The residency issue became an issue in his re-election campaign, and he was defeated in 1999 by Rev. [[Leonard Lucas]].

⚫
The son of a funeral director, Copelin graduated from [[St. Augustine High School (New Orleans)|St. Augustine High School]] and then became active in student politics at [[historically black]] [[Dillard University]], where he became student body president. He was hired to serve as an aide in the administration of [[Mayor of New Orleans|Mayor]] [[Victor Schiro]] in 1968. In the 1970s, he and [[Don Hubbard]] emerged as the leaders of the black political organization called [[SOUL (organization)|SOUL]] (Southern Organization for Unified Leadership). SOUL's effectiveness in rallying the support of African American voters for candidates like Louisiana Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] and New Orleans Mayor [[Moon Landrieu]] made him a powerful figure in New Orleans and Louisiana politics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/remembering-dorothy-mae-taylor-the-first-lady-of-1300-perdido-st/|title=Remembering Dorothy Mae Taylor: The First Lady of 1300 Perdido St.|author=Michael Radcliff|date=June 14, 2011|newspaper=The Louisiana Weekly|accessdate=September 27, 2014}}</ref>

In the 1970s Copelin headed Superdome Services, Inc., a politically connected company contracted by the Landrieu administration to provide janitorial and security services for the then new [[Louisiana Superdome]]. Scandal emerged when Copelin was accused of receiving payoffs from companies seeking to obtain contracts from City Hall.

⚫
In 1986, Copelin was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives from New Orleans's [[Lower Ninth Ward]]. He was subsequently the [[Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives#Speaker pro tempore|Speaker Pro Tempore]]. Success in business dealings led Copelin to move to Eastern New Orleans outside his district. The residency issue became an issue in his re-election campaign, and he was defeated in 1999 by the Reverend [[Leonard Lucas]].


Copelin ran unsuccessfully in the [[New Orleans mayoral election, 1994|New Orleans mayoral election of 1994]].
Copelin ran unsuccessfully in the [[New Orleans mayoral election, 1994|New Orleans mayoral election of 1994]].
Line 10: Line 44:


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
{{reflist}}

Bridges, Tyler. ''Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards.'' Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.
Bridges, Tyler. ''Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards.'' Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.


DuBos, Clancy. "SOUL on the Ropes." ''Gambit Weekly''. March 20, 2001. [http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2001-03-20/politics.html]
DuBos, Clancy. "SOUL on the Ropes." ''Gambit Weekly''. March 20, 2001. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060622221535/http://bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2001-03-20/politics.html]

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-la-hs}}
{{succession box
| before=Jon D. Johnson
| title=[[Louisiana State Legislature|Louisiana State Representative for<br> District 99 (Lower Ninth Ward of Orleans Parish)]]<br/>Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.
| years=1986&ndash;2000
| after=Leonard Lucas}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Hunt Downer]]
| title=[[Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives|Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives]]<br/>Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.
| years=1992 &ndash; 1996
| after=[[Peppi Bruneau]]}}
{{s-end}}


[[Category:People from New Orleans|Copelin, Sherman]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Copelin, Sherman}}
[[Category:Louisiana politicians|Copelin, Sherman]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:African American politicians|Copelin, Sherman]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people|Copelin, Sherman]]
[[Category:Politicians from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives|Copelin, Sherman]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Activists for African-American civil rights]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:American funeral directors]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from New Orleans]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature]]

Latest revision as of 09:15, 13 December 2024

Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.
Louisiana State Representative for
District 99 ()Lower Ninth Ward in Orleans Parish
In office
1986–2000
Preceded byJon D. Johnson
Succeeded byLeonard Lucas
Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House
In office
1992–1996
Preceded byHunt Downer
Succeeded byPeppi Bruneau
Personal details
BornAugust 1943
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materSt. Augustine High School
Dillard University
OccupationBusinessman

Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr. (born August 1943),[1] is an American politician and businessman from his native New Orleans, Louisiana.

The son of a funeral director, Copelin graduated from St. Augustine High School and then became active in student politics at historically black Dillard University, where he became student body president. He was hired to serve as an aide in the administration of Mayor Victor Schiro in 1968. In the 1970s, he and Don Hubbard emerged as the leaders of the black political organization called SOUL (Southern Organization for Unified Leadership). SOUL's effectiveness in rallying the support of African American voters for candidates like Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards and New Orleans Mayor Moon Landrieu made him a powerful figure in New Orleans and Louisiana politics.[2]

In the 1970s Copelin headed Superdome Services, Inc., a politically connected company contracted by the Landrieu administration to provide janitorial and security services for the then new Louisiana Superdome. Scandal emerged when Copelin was accused of receiving payoffs from companies seeking to obtain contracts from City Hall.

In 1986, Copelin was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives from New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward. He was subsequently the Speaker Pro Tempore. Success in business dealings led Copelin to move to Eastern New Orleans outside his district. The residency issue became an issue in his re-election campaign, and he was defeated in 1999 by the Reverend Leonard Lucas.

Copelin ran unsuccessfully in the New Orleans mayoral election of 1994.

Copelin is currently the head of the New Orleans East Business Association, and since Hurricane Katrina has publicly opposed the construction of new apartment complexes in New Orleans East.

Sources

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sherman Copelin, August 1943". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  2. ^ Michael Radcliff (June 14, 2011). "Remembering Dorothy Mae Taylor: The First Lady of 1300 Perdido St". The Louisiana Weekly. Retrieved September 27, 2014.

Bridges, Tyler. Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.

DuBos, Clancy. "SOUL on the Ropes." Gambit Weekly. March 20, 2001. [1]

Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jon D. Johnson
 Louisiana State Representative for
District 99 (Lower Ninth Ward of Orleans Parish)
Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.
1986–2000 		Succeeded by
Leonard Lucas
Preceded by Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr.
1992 – 1996 		Succeeded by
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