James H. Seaman

​US Navy | Law Enforcement

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Personal History

Jim was born in Brooklyn, attended PS 185, PS160 and Pershing JHS. He then attended and graduated from Fort Hamilton High School In 1948. He spent his summer working as a lifeguard in Coney Island. He soon joined the U.S. Navy for one year on active duty and then served four years in the active reserve. He met his first wife and was married in 1951. In 1951 his reserve unit was activated for the Korean War. During this period of time he was stationed In the States. His wife joined him and their first child was born. After he was separated from active dun [duty] in 1953, he worked at the Naval Reserve Unit in Brooklyn. He used his GI Bill to attend the New York Institute of Photography where he studied commercial and portrait photography.

 

By 1956, Jim and his wife had two daughters and a son. He continued to devote himself to a career in commercial portrait photography and got involved in real estate by selling properties in the Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton area. In 1977 he got remarried to Ann and moved to Shihola, Pennsylvania continued in real estate for awhile.

 

The Department of Defense was looking for civilian police to work with the military police on military installations in NJ and PA. He joined and soon was made sergeant. Jim was sent to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia for training in Constitutional Law and Use of Force and Laws governing civilian personnel in Federal installations and buildings. The squad soon evolved, as Special Reaction Team better know as SWAT. He became certified in defensive tactics and the use of high tech weapons and force continuum for all law enforcement personnel.

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In 1985 he joined the Pike County Sheriffs Office on a part time basis to transport prisoners from the county jail to the state prisons. In 1988 the Sheriff asked him to be a jail administrator since Pike County was going to build a new jail and needed a jail administrator. Three years later, a Prison Board was formed and appointed Jim as Warden of the Pike County Jail in Pennsylvania with a change from a 42-bed jail built in 1812 to a state of the art 235-bed jail. He continued in this capacity and was able to run an effective prison making sure that security and legal specifications were being complied with in all facets of the jail construction. The jail opened in 1996 and Jim retired in 1997 to settle down to the "Happy Home Life" where he enjoyed being with his wife, Ann. His wife went into politics and was elected County Auditor. Jim is very happy that he is no longer known as "Sarge", "Warden", or even "Mr. Seaman". He is just known as Ann Seaman's husband and is enjoying every minute of it. Jim bursts with pride when he talks about his two daughters and son and their spouses. He is the grandfather of six. His wife Ann has one son and a daughter and also boasts about their spouses and her five grandchildren. Both Jim and Ann count their blessings everyday.

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Jim has left a legacy for future generations to make sure that civilian rights are protected and that his contributions to the area of Correctional Leadership has helped to establish fair and equitable correctional facilities for future generations.