The subject of this sketch was born in Rusk, Cherokee County, Texas, on July 17, 1860, the son of Francis Marion and Anne E. Hicks.

Mr. Hicks' education was obtained in the public schools, Thatcher Institute of Shreveport and Soule's Business College in New Orleans.

His business career was begun in his father's store, then known as Hicks & Powell, where he worked in various capacities. Young Hicks digested all the details of the business and lost no opportunity of learning business and of imbibing business acumen which was to make him one of the most successful business men of Louisiana. The health of the father compelled him to seek a different climate. This left young S. B. in sole charge of the affairs of the firm, giving the young man an opportunity to exhibit his executive ability.

In time the business was known as Hicks Company, Limited, which is today one of the largest in the South. Mr. Hicks was also well known in lumber circles as the president of the Lodwick Lumber Company. He was Director in the First National Bank; president of the S. B. Hicks Motor Company; local director of the Kansas City Southern, the H. & S. (Southern Pacific).

Mr. Hicks loved churches and was a real church builder. Perhaps it is safe to say that no body of people desiring a Presbyterian church in Shreveport or in any of the little nearby towns, ever appealed in vain to Mr. Hicks for assistance in building a church. The growth of these little churches was his pride. He visited them and made encouraging talks with the congregations on the higher ideals of religious work, and Mr. Hicks was ever alert to the needs of his city-Shreveport, in every line of progress. During the World War he was Food Administrator for the Fourth Congressional District which was under his supervision. He had been Democratic National Committeeman since 1920 until his death.

Mr. Hicks died April 17, 1925. His funeral was one long concourse of grieving friends and he was laid away under banks of rarest flowers. People from all walks of life loved him and knew they had lost a real friend with his passing.