[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29651]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    REMEMBERING THOMAS D. WELLS III

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAX SANDLIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 10, 1999

  Mr. SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a great American, 
a great Texan, and a great friend. Thomas D. ``Tommy'' Wells, the long-
time County Attorney for Lamar County, Texas, died on October 15, 1999, 
will be sorely missed.
  Tommy served Lamar County as County Attorney for twenty years and 
will always be remembered as an exemplary public servant. But I will 
remember Tommy as a friend--a man dedicated to his family, committed to 
always doing the right thing.
  My friend Tommy was an inspiration to the people of East Texas. He 
graduated from Paris High School and received his bachelor's degree 
from Baylor University. After graduating from law school at St. Mary's 
University, he returned to Paris to practice law.
  Subsequently, Tommy won five consecutive elections to the County 
Attorney post. He was elected president of the Texas County and 
District Attorney's Association and also served on the State Bar of 
Texas Grievance Committee. After leaving his prosecutor's post for 
private practice. Tommy continued to serve his state as a special 
prosecutor.
  Clearly Tommy was a credit to his profession--but his lasting legacy 
is his family. Tommy and his wife of thirty years, Rusty, raised two 
sons in Paris. Nothing was more important to Tommy Wells than his 
family.
  His dedication to his family's activities brought him closer to his 
community. Tommy taught Sunday School for the First Baptist Church of 
Paris and coached football for Optimist teams. He was active with the 
Paris Boys Club. He served on the board of the Salvation Army and was a 
member of the ``Old Men's Club.''
  Tommy Wells was not an old man, though. He died at age fifty-four. A 
young man both in age and spirit, he contributed more to Lamar County 
in his brief life than its residents ever could have asked of him.
  Mr. Speaker, East Texas has lost a leader and a friend. His wife, 
sons, and mother have lost a dear member of their family. But the City 
of Paris and Lamar County gained so much from the life of Tommy Wells. 
We celebrate his life and are grateful for his time with us.

                          ____________________