History

Sam M. Sicard

It is hard to know where the future U.S. Marshals Museum would be if not for Sam Sicard. His family has long been interested in the history and development of Fort Smith, Arkansas—in fact, since 1872, three years before U.S. District Judge Isaac “Hanging Judge” Parker started working with our personnel. The son of a longtime bank president, Sicard knew his way around the financial aspects of community-building. He had served as President of the First National Bank of Fort Smith for decades, having consolidated a number of financial institutions in 1989. When Fort Smith was selected to be the site for the museum, Sicard was one of the first board members considered and included. Although he was generally quiet in the quarterly meetings, his invaluable counsel and assistance on financial issues proved crucial. He once told an interviewer that the value of being a good listener was his major strength.

Born in October 1940, Samuel M. Sicard attended the University of Arkansas and graduated in 1963. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was exposed to bank leadership at a young age after his father suffered a stroke in 1969. A hard worker, he remained active until his sudden passing on August 7, 2011 at the age of 70. He is survived by his second wife, son, three step-children, and four grandchildren. His adeptness in the banking industry, and the belief in public service, passed on to his son, Samuel T. Sicard, who currently sits on the U.S. Marshals Museum Board.