City clerk to retire after over three decades of service

When James Snow turned in his petition to run for the city’s clerk for the upcoming election back in 1983, he went in wanting to win a seat he never expected to occupy.

On the same ballot as the race for the position he applied for was a ballot proposal that would amend the city charter, establishing the clerk and treasurer as appointed positions, rather than being selected through a popular vote by the public. Even though he stood a good chance of being elected, Snow expected voters to approve the proposal, making a victory in the polls moot.

“I figured I would be the last clerk ever elected, and never have to serve a day in office,” Snow said.

As it turns out, his campaign slogan of “Vote No, Vote Snow” resonated with the public, as the amendment died in the voting booth while Snow was selected as the city’s keeper of records — a position he has held ever since.

After 31 years of service to four mayors, Snow has decided to call it a career. The city clerk plans to resign from his position later this month, on Feb. 13.

With the end of his term coming up in the fall, Snow decided to retire from his position of 30 years now. Last February, the longtime Dowagiac resident had an operation performed on his right shoulder, and returned to work late last year.

“Like a lot of things in life, when it’s time to step away, you know that you know,” he said.

Snow’s retirement caps off nearly a half of century of public service to the residents of Dowagiac. Snow and his wife Lavada moved to the Grand Old City in 1960, after moving to Michigan the year before from their native state of Arkansas.

In 1965, Snow became an officer with the Dowagiac Police Department, beginning his life in the public sector. Snow would go on work with the county for several years before returning to the City of Dowagiac, spending a couple of years working on the department of public services.

It’s through his work at the city’s clerk office where Snow has cemented his legacy in public service, though. During the past 30 plus years, he has worked with four different administrations, more than a dozen different members of city council and several different city managers, all the while maintaining smooth elections even in the face of several changes to city, county and state laws.

But perhaps the thing he will be remembered for the most during his time inside city hall is his larger-than-life personality and his trademark baseball caps, the latter of which took on a life of their own. After being photographed in cap shortly after his election in 1984, residents began sending him hats from teams, theme parks and other places around the country.

“People would go on vacation somewhere, and decide to bring me back a cap when they came back,” Snow said. “I didn’t even realize how I had until years later.”

In all, Snow said he’s managed to collect more than 37 boxes of caps over the last 30 years, he said.

Last fall, the clerk received his largest gift yet, as city council decided to christen downtown’s new office complex in his name. Snow was present when Mayor Don Lyons and other city officials unveiled the James E. Snow Professional Building to the public for the first time.

“When they first told me the news, I wasn’t sure what to think,” Snow said. “I’ve always been the type who’d rather have his feet on the street than have his name on a building. I’m so blessed that they thought enough of me to do something like that.”

Despite the honor, Snow said the recognition is just the icing on the cake, and that his true legacy lies in the years of service to the government and the people of his hometown.

“If my wife would allow it, I would want my tombstone to say ‘servant,’” Snow said. “That’s what I’ve tried to be for all these years.”