Bill Sarpalius

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William "Bill" Sarpalius (born January 10, 1948) is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, having represented the Texas Panhandle district from 1989-1995.

Sarapalius was born in Houston. As a teenager, he left his parents in the city to work and learn at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch near Amarillo. At the age of eighteen, he became the president of the Future Farmers of America. He first attended Clarendon College in Clarendon, the seat of Donley County. He received a bachelor's degree in agribusiness from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. In 1972, Sarpalius was hired by Farley's Ranch as a teacher at the school. In 1978, he left the ranch to return to school and received an M.B.A. from West Texas State University in Canyon, the seat of Randall County. He then entered into an agribusiness career.

In 1980, Sarapalius successfully ran for a seat in the Texas State Senate. He served in this body until 1989, having been elected in 1988 to the national Congress. While serving in the House, he was a member of the Agricultural Committee. Sarapalius was one of a number of Congressman involved in drafting the North American Free Trade Agreement guidelines. As a Lithuanian-American, Sarapalius was actively involved in calling for American aid to the newly independent Baltic States.

During the 1994 elections, Sarapalius was one of a large number of Democrats unseated in the Republican Revolution. Afterward, he was appointed by U.S. President William Jefferson Blythe "Bill" Clinton as a top official in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is currently the chief executive officer of Advantage Associates, a powerful Washington consulting firm made up of former elected officials.

Preceded by Bob Price	Texas State Senator from District 31 1981–1989	Succeeded by Teel Bivins
Preceded by Beau Boulter	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 13th congressional district 1989 – 1995	Succeeded by Mac Thornberry