Sam Bushman was born and raised in Cole County and attended Jefferson City Public Schools, Lincoln University for his undergraduate degree, and the University of Missouri at Columbia for graduate school.
He was a businessman in Downtown Jefferson City for over 40 years. Sam and his wife, Linda, sold their business, Samuel’s Tuxedo and Gifts, in 2022.
Sam has been the Presiding Commissioner of Cole County since 2014, and currently serves on the Workforce Development Task Force, Traffic and Safety Committee, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and lifetime member of Capital Region Medical Center Board of Governors.
He belongs to many clubs, organizations and associations. Sam is a Son of the American Revolution; Son of the Union Veterans; Son of the American Legion; Lions, and past president of the Jefferson City Host Lions; Knights of Columbus, Helias Council; Historic City of Jefferson; and Treasurer of the Cole County Bicentennial Committee. Sam is past Council President, State President, and Regional President of the Navy League of the United States. In 1986 he recommissioned the Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, and decommissioned her in 1992. He then commissioned the submarine USS Jefferson City SSN-759 in 1992; the carrier USS Harry S Truman CVN-75 in 1998; and the submarine USS Missouri SSN-780 in 2010; and still visits and cruises on these ships of our ”Missouri Navy.” Finally Sam serves as Chairman of Region 5 and Boss Lift Director for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense Program working with our Missouri National Guard and Reserve forces.
His newest project is to create a committee for the 250th Birthday of the United States on July 4, 2026. Cole County will have a grand celebration.