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|birth_date=February 26, 1913​

|birth_date=February 26, 1913​

|birth_place=[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], USA

|birth_place=[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], USA

​|death_date=Feburary 29, 1992 (aged 79)​

|death_date=Feburary 29, 1992 (aged 79)​

|death_place=Cuernavaca, Morelos, [[Mexico]]​

|death_place=Cuernavaca, Morelos, [[Mexico]]​

|resting_place=Glenwood Cemetery in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas ​

|resting_place=Glenwood Cemetery in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas ​

'''Albert Bel Fay, Sr.''' (February 26, 1913 &ndash; February 29, 1992), was an [[United States|American]] [[business]]man who  served briefly as the United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]], whose involvement with the pary began in 1952 with the first presidential campaign of [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].​<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffa20|title=Fay, Albert Bel, Sr.|publisher=''The Handbook of Texas'' on-line|author=Mary Smith Fay|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

'''Albert Bel Fay, Sr.''' (February 26, 1913 &ndash; February 29, 1992), was an [[United States|American]] [[business]]man who  served briefly as the United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]], whose involvement with the party began in 1952 with the first presidential campaign of [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].​<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffa20|title=Fay, Albert Bel, Sr.|publisher=''The Handbook of Texas'' on-line|author=Mary Smith Fay|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

 

==Background==

==Background==

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 &ndash; 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 &ndash; 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 1938, Fay and his brother, Ernest Fay (1914–1986), founded Seabrook Shipyard, which built submarine chasers and rescue boats during World War II. After the war, Fay operated various businesses in Texas and Louisiana, including shipbuilding and his Bel Oil Corporation.<ref name=bio/>​

In 1938, Fay and his brother, Ernest Fay (1914–1986), founded Seabrook Shipyard, which built submarine chasers and rescue boats during World War II. After the war, Fay operated various businesses in Texas and Louisiana, including shipbuilding and his Bel Oil Corporation.<ref name=bio/>​

By 1972, his [[petroleum]] interests included holdings in several states as well as [[Canada]] and [[New Zealand]]. He also had [[real estate]] interests in [[Nicaragua]] and the[Cayman Islands in the [[Caribbean Sea]]. At the time of his death, his business interests had diversified to include ranching, timber, marinas, and [[banking]].​<ref name=bio/>

By 1972, his [[petroleum]] interests included holdings in several states as well as [[Canada]] and [[New Zealand]]. He also had [[real estate]] interests in [[Nicaragua]] and the Cayman Islands in the [[Caribbean Sea]]. At the time of his death, his business interests had diversified to include ranching, timber, marinas, and [[banking]].​<ref name=bio/>

 

==Republican national committeeman, 1960 to 1969==

==Republican national committeeman, 1960 to 1969==

By 1960, Fay had become Republican national committeeman and an automatic  member of the [[Republican National Committee]]. At the[1964 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[San Francisco]], [[California]], Fay served on the Credentials Committee.<ref>[[Jack Crichton]], ''The Republican-Democrat Political Campaigns in Texas in 1964,'' self-published, 2004, p. 24.</ref> In 1969, Fay lost his national committeeman's position about the time that the [[attorney]] William Merritt Steger (1920-2004) was elected state party chairman to succeed Peter O'Donnell of [[Dallas]]. Steger had been the unsuccessful Republican [[governor|gubernatorial]] candidate in 1960 and was later a long-serving U.S. District Court [[judge]] based in [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]] in Smith County in east Texas.

By 1960, Fay had become Republican national committeeman and an automatic  member of the [[Republican National Committee]]. At the[1964 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[San Francisco]], [[California]], Fay served on the Credentials Committee.<ref>[[Jack Crichton]], ''The Republican-Democrat Political Campaigns in Texas in 1964,'' self-published, 2004, p. 24.</ref> In 1969, Fay lost his national committeeman's position about the time that the [[attorney]] William Merritt Steger (1920-2004) was elected state party chairman to succeed Peter O'Donnell of [[Dallas]]. Steger had been the unsuccessful Republican [[governor|gubernatorial]] candidate in 1960 and was later a long-serving U.S. District Court [[judge]] based in [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]] in Smith County in east Texas.

 

==Opposing Jerry Sadler for land commissioner==

==Opposing Jerry Sadler for 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]] 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 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/>

N​o 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.​

N​o 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.​

 

==Gubernatorial primaries, 1972==

==Gubernatorial primaries, 1972==

 

In 1972, Fay ran against five other candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. He made it into the second primary but lost the nomination to then state Senator [[Henry C. Grover]], also of Houston and a staunch [[conservative]]. Grover was thereafter defeated in the [[general election]] by Democrat [[Dolph Briscoe]]. A third candidate was Ramsey Muñiz, nominee of the since-disbanded Hispanic Raza Unida Party. In the low-turnout runoff election, Grover received 37,842 votes (66.4 percent) to Fay's 19,166 (33.6 percent), according to ''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections.''

In 1972, Fay ran against five other candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. He made it into the second primary but lost the nomination to then state Senator [[Henry C. Grover]], also of Houston and a staunch [[conservative]]. Grover was thereafter defeated in the [[general election]] by Democrat [[Dolph Briscoe]]. A third candidate was Ramsey Muñiz, nominee of the since-disbanded Hispanic Raza Unida Party. In the low-turnout runoff election, Grover received 37,842 votes (66.4 percent) to Fay's 19,166 (33.6 percent), according to ''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections.''

==Party financier and U.S. ambassador==

==Party financier and U.S. ambassador==

 

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.<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>​

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>​

 

==Civic leadership and sportsmanship==

==Civic leadership and sportsmanship==

==Death==

==Death==

Fay died at the age of seventy-nine in Cuernavaca, the capital of the state of Morelos,, [[Mexico]]. He and Mrs. Fay are buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. He was a [[Presbyterian]].​<ref name=bio/>

Fay died at the age of seventy-nine in Cuernavaca, the capital of the state of Morelos, [[Mexico]]. He and Mrs. Fay are buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. He was a [[Presbyterian]].​<ref name=bio/>

Then President and Mrs. [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] issued the following statement on Fay's death:

Then President and Mrs. [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] issued the following statement on Fay's death: