Jerry Sadler
Encyclopedia
Jerry Sadler was a Democratic
member of the Texas House of Representatives
and the Texas Railroad Commission. From 1961 to 1971, he was the elected Commissioner of the General Land Office
.
in Anderson County
in East Texas. He served in the U. S. Army 12th Cavalry from 1927 to 1929 at Fort Brown in Brownsville
, Texas.
, the former mayor of Amarillo
known as expert on oil and natural gas policy. Sadler resigned from the commission in 1942 to enter the U.S. Army. He werved during World War II
in the Persian Gulf command. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with rank of lieutenant colonel
.
After the war, Sadler returned to Anderson County. In the 1946 gubernatorial election, Sadler ran for the Democratic nomination, but was defeated by his successor on the Railroad Commission, Beauford H. Jester
of Corsicana
.
He was elected a member of the Texas House of Representatives from Anderson County, having served from 1955 to 1961.
Sadler served as Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas from 1961 - 1971. In 1962, Sadler opposed Senator Ralph Yarborough
’s plans to create a National Seashore at South Padre Island
. Sadler claimed that a National Seashore that took over state-owned tidelands would prohibit the removal of oil and gas, thus depriving Texas of millions of dollars in revenues dedicated to the permanent public school fund. Using emotionally charged phrases such as "summarily stripped of such great wealth," Commissioner Sadler persuaded Governor Price Daniel, Sr.
, to appoint a statewide committee to study the feasibility of a state park in place of the National Seashore.
Ultimately, the Padre Island National Seashore
was designated.
Ironically, Padre Island would provide the setting for the final phase of Sadler’s tenure as Land Commissioner. Starting in 1968, Sadler was involved with the Platoro company of Indiana, which was dredging along the Gulf Coast near South Padre Island
and found the wreck of a Spanish galleon
. Platoro kept the treasures, which were removed to Indiana
. When Sadler’s name was linked to the company, he went on an offensive demanding accountings from the company, but his involvement became a brewing scandal.
In 1969, State Representative Jake Johnson of San Antonio held a press conference demanding the return of the Spanish treasure. "At the conference, Sadler ended up holding Johnson in a choke hold as a radio reporter stuck a microphone in his face and asked him for comment. 'The land commissioner is choking me,' Johnson replied."
The following year, State Representative Bob Armstrong
defeated Sadler in the Democratic primary and went on to succeed him in that office.
Sadler died in 1982. He was survived by his wife, the former Laura Jones (born August 24, 1920). Sadler is interred at Texas State Cemetery
in Austin
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
and the Texas Railroad Commission. From 1961 to 1971, he was the elected Commissioner of the General Land Office
Texas General Land Office
.The Texas General Land Office is a state agency of Texas. It manages state-controlled lands and mineral rights properties. The agency originally collected and kept records regarding lands controlled by the state. The agency has its headquarters in the Stephen F. Austin State Office Building in...
.
Early years
Sadler was born near PalestinePalestine, Texas
Palestine is a city in Anderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,598, and 18,458 in the 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Anderson County and is situated in East Texas...
in Anderson County
Anderson County, Texas
Anderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 55,109. Its county seat is Palestine. Anderson county was organized in 1846, and is named in honor of Kenneth L. Anderson who had been Vice President of the Republic of Texas.-Geography:According to the...
in East Texas. He served in the U. S. Army 12th Cavalry from 1927 to 1929 at Fort Brown in Brownsville
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
, Texas.
Political career and wartime service
In 1938, Sadler was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission. One of his colleagues on the regulatory body was Ernest O. ThompsonErnest O. Thompson
Ernest Othmer Thompson was a general in the United States Army during World War I, a mayor of Amarillo, Texas, an attorney, a businessman , and a 32-year member of the Texas Railroad Commission. He was recognized as a world authority on petroleum and natural gas production and conservation...
, the former mayor of Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
known as expert on oil and natural gas policy. Sadler resigned from the commission in 1942 to enter the U.S. Army. He werved during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Persian Gulf command. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
After the war, Sadler returned to Anderson County. In the 1946 gubernatorial election, Sadler ran for the Democratic nomination, but was defeated by his successor on the Railroad Commission, Beauford H. Jester
Beauford H. Jester
Beauford Halbert Jester was a U.S. political figure, the son of George Taylor Jester and his second wife, Frances Gordon Jester. He served as the 36th Governor of Texas from 1947 until 1949, when he died of a heart attack...
of Corsicana
Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census...
.
He was elected a member of the Texas House of Representatives from Anderson County, having served from 1955 to 1961.
Sadler served as Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas from 1961 - 1971. In 1962, Sadler opposed Senator Ralph Yarborough
Ralph Yarborough
Ralph Webster Yarborough was a Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate and was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of his party in his many races for statewide office...
’s plans to create a National Seashore at South Padre Island
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is a barrier island in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located in Cameron County and is a popular vacation destination because the resort city South Padre Island is located on the island. The island itself is considered to have been settled by Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, who had a...
. Sadler claimed that a National Seashore that took over state-owned tidelands would prohibit the removal of oil and gas, thus depriving Texas of millions of dollars in revenues dedicated to the permanent public school fund. Using emotionally charged phrases such as "summarily stripped of such great wealth," Commissioner Sadler persuaded Governor Price Daniel, Sr.
Price Daniel
Marion Price Daniel, Sr. , was a Democratic U.S. Senator and the 38th Governor of the state of Texas. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be a member of the National Security Council, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and Assistant to the President for Federal-State...
, to appoint a statewide committee to study the feasibility of a state park in place of the National Seashore.
Ultimately, the Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore is a National Seashore located on Padre Island off the coast of South Texas. In contrast to South Padre Island , PINS is located on North Padre Island and consists of a long beach where nature is preserved...
was designated.
Ironically, Padre Island would provide the setting for the final phase of Sadler’s tenure as Land Commissioner. Starting in 1968, Sadler was involved with the Platoro company of Indiana, which was dredging along the Gulf Coast near South Padre Island
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is a barrier island in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located in Cameron County and is a popular vacation destination because the resort city South Padre Island is located on the island. The island itself is considered to have been settled by Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, who had a...
and found the wreck of a Spanish galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
. Platoro kept the treasures, which were removed to Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. When Sadler’s name was linked to the company, he went on an offensive demanding accountings from the company, but his involvement became a brewing scandal.
In 1969, State Representative Jake Johnson of San Antonio held a press conference demanding the return of the Spanish treasure. "At the conference, Sadler ended up holding Johnson in a choke hold as a radio reporter stuck a microphone in his face and asked him for comment. 'The land commissioner is choking me,' Johnson replied."
The following year, State Representative Bob Armstrong
Bob Armstrong (Texas politician)
Robert Landis "Bob" Armstrong served as a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970, Commissioner of the General Land Office from 1970 to 1982, and member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 1985 to 1991. He was appointed Assistant Secretary for Land and...
defeated Sadler in the Democratic primary and went on to succeed him in that office.
Sadler died in 1982. He was survived by his wife, the former Laura Jones (born August 24, 1920). Sadler is interred at Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.