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Samuel Charles Sherwood
Samuel Charles Sherwood was born on August 30, 1923 in Excelsior Springs, Mo., and after living over ninety and one-half years, died peacefully at North Care Hospice on March 20, 2014.
He grew to adulthood in Excelsior Springs, the son of a Clay County Bank teller and later successful business man, historian, and visionary, Samuel Culbertson Sherwood. His mother, Artabel Sherwood, was known for her warm and genial manner. Sam’s youth was during the town’s heyday as a resort when its famous four unique strains of mineral water were sampled for their medicinal purposes by thousands from all over the country. Sam remembered Excelsior Springs as an exciting and wonderful place to grow up and retained vivid memories of life there during this period.
Sam attended Central Methodist University in Fayetteville, Mo., as a pre-med student until he was drafted in 1943. He was sent overseas as a medic in the U.S. Army and spent his twenty-first birthday on the battle front in France. He went on to be cited twice for bravery. After he was discharged in 1946, Sam changed his college major and the direction of his life. He earned a BA in Business Administration from University of Missouri and then a law degree from University of Kansas City (now UMKC). He was also awarded Who’s Who of American Law Students and was included in the 1950-54 volume.
Immediately after he graduated and passed the Missouri Bar he married the love of his life, Barbara. Barbara was the daughter of the current Director of the Veterans Association hospital located in Excelsior Springs. They were married for the next 63 years.
After a brief period in private practice in Excelsior Springs, Sam was hired by Kansas City Title Insurance Company to manage their North Kansas City office. He went on to become president of Kansas City Title Insurance in 1968 and some years later managed their merger with Chicago Title Insurance Co., becoming their senior vice president.
Sam C. Sherwood Jr.’s life was defined by personal honesty, integrity and accomplishment. These qualities resulted in his receiving many awards and commendations though out his career. These included two awards from Missouri Land Title Association, distinguished service in 1996, and 50 year service award in 2003. He served as the organization’s president from 1982-83 and received a commendation for “Splendid Leadership”. He was inducted into the prestigious American College of Real Estate Attorneys and was a member of the Board of Directors of Missouri Bank from 1979-2000. Oklahoma Land Title Association made him an honorary member for his extensive work to rescue a troubled development there. Sam spent the last ten years of his full-time career at the Kansas City branch of Houston-based Stewart Title Insurance Company as their senior vice president, and was also the company’s, “Of Counsel”. After his retirement, he was asked to remain with the company as a part-time advisor. He retained this position until age 85 in 2008.
Sam leaves his wife, Barbara, three children, a sister and three nieces. To his family, Sam C. Sherwood Jr. was a wonderful husband and a loving and compassionate father. He strived to be home every evening after work and became the best friend of his wife, and created a solid foundation for his children in which they felt free to construct their own individual futures. He will be sorely missed by his family, but Society has lost something as well. It has lost a bit of its own foundation.
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