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Fay was born in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], to Charles Spencer Fay and the former Marie Dorothy Bel, hence his middle name. His father was an officer of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The family relocated to [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], where Fay graduated from San Jacinto High School. In 1935, he married the former Homoiselle Randall Haden (August 26, 1908 – February 6, 1990). They were the parents of three children, including Albert Bel Fay, Jr. (born 1945), of Houston, an active Republican donor.<ref name=bio/>
Fay was born in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], to Charles Spencer Fay and the former Marie Dorothy Bel, hence his middle name. His father was an officer of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The family relocated to [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], where Fay graduated from San Jacinto High School. In 1935, he married the former Homoiselle Randall Haden (August 26, 1908 – February 6, 1990). They were the parents of three children, including Albert Bel Fay, Jr. (born 1945), of Houston, an active Republican donor.<ref name=bio/>
In 1936, Fay obtained a bachelor's degree in geology from [[Yale University]] in [[New Haven]], [[Connecticut]]. At Yale, he was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. During [[World War II]], he commanded a submarine chaser in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Later in the war, he was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant while serving in [[Okinawa]].<ref name=bio/>
In 1936, Fay obtained a bachelor's degree in geology from [[Yale University]] in [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]], [[Connecticut]]. At Yale, he was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. During [[World War II]], he commanded a submarine chaser in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Later in the war, he was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant while serving in [[Okinawa]].<ref name=bio/>
==Extensive business interests==
==Extensive business interests==
==Running for Texas land commissioner==
==Running for Texas land commissioner==
In 1962 and 1966, Fay was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Texas land commissioner. In the latter race he won the endorsement of the [[AFL-CIO]] executive board. He lost both races to popular [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gerald Anthony "Jerry" Sadler (1907-1982), who once had [[Governor|gubernatorial]] ambition. In the 1962 campaign, Fay hailed [[U.S. President]] [[John F. Kennedy]] for signing into law the establishment of the Padre Island National Seashore north of [[Brownsville]].<ref name=bio/>
In 1962 and 1966, Fay was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Texas land commissioner. In the latter race he won the endorsement of the [[AFL-CIO]] executive board. He lost both races to popular [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gerald Anthony "Jerry" Sadler (1907-1982), who once had [[Governor|gubernatorial]] ambitions. In the 1962 campaign, Fay hailed [[U.S. President]] [[John F. Kennedy]] for signing into law the establishment of the Padre Island National Seashore north of [[Brownsville]].<ref name=bio/>
In 1966, Fay supported President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in the establishment of the [[Guadalupe Mountains National Park]] in West Texas near the [[New Mexico]] border. Both acquisitions had long been strongly promoted by Democratic [[U. S. Senator]] [[Ralph Yarborough]]. Previously, Texas had only one national park: [[Big Bend National Park|Big Bend]] along the [[Rio Grande]] in the southwestern part of the state. Fay found himself allying with [[liberal]] Democrat Yarborough, whereas his opponent, Sadler, and the Texas Republican U. S. Senator [[John Tower]] were opposed to the additional park lands. Sadler took the view that the acquisition of lands from private individuals would mean less [[property tax]] revenues needed to provide the local share of financing of public schools as well as declining funds to the Texas Permanent School Fund.
In 1966, Fay supported President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in the establishment of the [[Guadalupe Mountains National Park]] in West Texas near the [[New Mexico]] border. Both acquisitions had long been strongly promoted by Democratic [[U. S. Senator]] [[Ralph Yarborough]]. Previously, Texas had only one national park: [[Big Bend National Park|Big Bend]] along the [[Rio Grande]] in the southwestern part of the state. Fay found himself allying with [[liberal]] Democrat Yarborough, whereas his opponent, Sadler, and the Texas Republican U. S. Senator [[John Tower]] were opposed to the additional park lands. Sadler took the view that the acquisition of lands from private individuals would mean less [[property tax]] revenues needed to provide the local share of financing of public schools as well as declining funds to the Texas Permanent School Fund.
No Republican was elected land commissioner until 1998, when David Dewhurst, later the lieutenant governor, won the position. Dewhurst succeeded long-time Land Commissioner Garry Mauro of [[Bryan, Texas|Bryan]] in Brazos County, who had first been elected in 1982.
No Republican was elected land commissioner until 1998, when David Dewhurst, later the lieutenant governor, won the position. Dewhurst succeeded long-time Land Commissioner Garry Mauro of [[Bryan, Texas|Bryan]] in Brazos County, who had first been elected in 1982.