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==Background==
==Background==
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.<ref name=pgraveyard>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/fay.html|title=Fay, Albert Bel|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref> 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|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/>
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.
In the 1966 race, Fay won endorsements from the [[AFL-CIO]] executive board and the Political Association of Spanish-Speaking Organizations.<ref name=bio/>
No Republican was elected land commissioner until 1998, when David Dewhurst of Houston, 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 of Houston, 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.
Fay served as chairman of his state's Republican finance committee, as a member of the national Republican finance committee (1968–1976), a member of the Texas Republican Executive Committee, and a member of the executive committee of the Republican National Committee. He was a delegate to three consecutive national conventions: 1960 in [[Chicago]], 1964 in [[San Francisco]], and 1968 in Miami Beach, [[Florida]]; he served as co-chairman of the state delegation in 1960 and vice chairman of the state delegation in 1964.<ref name=bio/>
Fay served as chairman of his state's Republican finance committee, as a member of the national Republican finance committee (1968–1976), a member of the Texas Republican Executive Committee, and a member of the executive committee of the Republican National Committee. He was a delegate to three consecutive national conventions: 1960 in [[Chicago]], 1964 in [[San Francisco]], and 1968 in Miami Beach, [[Florida]]; he served as co-chairman of the state delegation in 1960 and vice chairman of the state delegation in 1964.<ref name=bio/>
In October 1969, U.S. President [[Richard M. Nixon]] appointed Fay to the 13-member board of governors overseeing the former Panama Canal Company. He retained that position until February 1976, when President [[Gerald Ford, named him ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. He served in that capacity for over a year, until April 1977, some months after Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]] assumed the presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/fay-albert-bel|title=Albert Bel Fay (1913-1992|publisher=Office of the Historian: U.S. State Department|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>
In October 1969, U.S. President [[Richard M. Nixon]] appointed Fay to the 13-member board of governors overseeing the former Panama Canal Company. He retained that position until February 1976, when President [[Gerald Ford]], named him ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.<ref name=pgraveyard/> He served in that capacity for over a year, until April 1977, some months after Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]] assumed the presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/fay-albert-bel|title=Albert Bel Fay (1913-1992|publisher=Office of the Historian: U.S. State Department|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Albert was a close personal friend, and we will miss him greatly. He was a Texan through and through. He was a leader in building the Republican Party in Houston, starting in the early 1960s. Albert was a mentor who helped guide me in my early years in Texas politics, when getting Republicans elected was next to impossible. His service to the Republican Party has been invaluable."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?id=4017&year=1992&month=3|title=Bush statement on death of Albert Bel Fay|publisher=George Bush Presidential Library and Museum|date=March 2, 1999|accessdate=January 4, 1992; no longer on-line}}</ref></blockquote>
Albert was a close personal friend, and we will miss him greatly. He was a Texan through and through. He was a leader in building the Republican Party in Houston, starting in the early 1960s. Albert was a mentor who helped guide me in my early years in Texas politics, when getting Republicans elected was next to impossible. His service to the Republican Party has been invaluable."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?id=4017&year=1992&month=3|title=Bush statement on death of Albert Bel Fay|publisher=George Bush Presidential Library and Museum|date=March 2, 1999|accessdate=January 4, 1992; no longer on-line}}</ref></blockquote>
==References==
==References==
*John R. Knaggs, ''Two-Party Texas: The John Tower Era'', 1961-1984 (Austin: Eakin Press, 1986).
*John R. Knaggs, ''Two-Party Texas: The John Tower Era'', 1961-1984 (Austin: Eakin Press, 1986).
*Roger M. Olien, ''From Token to Triumph: The Texas Republicans since 1920'' (Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1982).
*Roger M. Olien, ''From Token to Triumph: The Texas Republicans since 1920'' (Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1982).
*''Who's Who in America, 1980-81.''
*''Who's Who in America, 1980-1981.''
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