SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 312
 
  In Memory
  of
  Sam D. Seale
 
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
  commemorates the life of Sam D. Seale, longtime executive
  director of the Texas Association of Counties, who sadly passed
  away February 7, 2007, after a long and valiant struggle against
  cancer; and
         WHEREAS, Sam Seale was born September 27, 1933, in
  Floresville, Wilson County, and grew up on his family's ranch in
  Jackson County; the land was originally a part of the land grants
  of Stephen F. Austin's first colony and had been in his family for
  more than 100 years; and
         WHEREAS, He embarked on a career in law enforcement, first
  as a police officer in Kingsville, Kleburg County, next as a
  deputy in the Travis County Sheriff's Office, and then to the
  Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C.; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Seale attended Texas A&I University in
  Kingsville, the American College of Law in Washington, D.C., and
  The University of Texas School of Law in Austin before returning
  with his wife and children to the Jackson County family ranch;
  and
         WHEREAS, He was elected Jackson County Judge in 1971 and
  began a new career as a leader of Texas county government; he
  served as president of the South Texas Judges and Commissioners
  Association, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of
  Texas, and the Texas Association of Regional Councils and as a
  board member of the National Association of Regional Councils;
  and
         WHEREAS, In 1986, Mr. Seale joined the Texas Association of
  Counties in Austin to head its Intergovernmental Relations staff
  and, the next year, was promoted to executive director, a position
  he kept until his death; and
         WHEREAS, Under his leadership, the Texas Association of
  Counties grew from six employees to 130 staff members today;
  the organization provides counties a wide array of services,
  including insurance coverage at reasonable costs, premiere
  education classes, legal counsel, legislative programs, and
  leadership training for rising county leaders; and
         WHEREAS, Sam oversaw the expansion of services by the
  association without increasing the taxpayer dues paid by county
  governments; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Seale was widely respected for his love of
  Texas county government and the vibrancy of its constitutional
  checks-and-balances structure; and
         WHEREAS, He was universally recognized as Mr. County
  Government among Texas' 254 counties and their 4,000-plus officials
  for his knowledge and leadership; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
  80th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the
  bereaved family of Sam D. Seale:  his wife, Sylvia Aldrete Seale;
  his sons and daughters-in-law, Sam D. Seale IV and Sandra Seale,
  Michael and Cerenna McCrery, and Marc Thomas; his daughters and
  sons-in-law, Carrie Hearne, Lea Ann Guyton, Terry and Pat Fazio,
  Jean and Max Bordelon, and Laura and Jeff Hanson; his sister,
  Laura Ann Farley; and his 21 grandchildren and great-grandchild;
  and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  the members of his family as an expression of profound sympathy
  from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this
  day, it do so in memory of Sam D. Seale.
  Wentworth
 
 
 
  ________________________________ 
      President of the Senate
   
      I hereby certify that the
  above Resolution was adopted by
  the Senate on February 21, 2007,
  by a rising vote.
 
 
 
  ________________________________ 
      Secretary of the Senate
 
 
 
  ________________________________ 
       Member, Texas Senate