The FGSUD Board of Directors take their role seriously in providing quality drinking water to customers. Board members are elected in May of each year and serve three year terms. They welcome customers to attend monthly meetings and express any concerns.
Biographical Information for Board Members:
Burrell McKelvain, President
Burrell McKelvain worked his way through Tarleton College and Texas A & M, graduating in 1964. He then joined the Navy, served in Viet Nam and later flew as support staff for the President of the United States before retiring after 20 years. He and his family moved back home to Stephens County in 1984 to the family ranch that has been in his family since 1890s. After a competitive search, he was selected by TSTC to open the Breckenridge campus in 1989. With dual Master’s degrees, past life experiences along with overseeing multimillion dollar budgets, he advanced at TSTC retiring as the West Texas Provost in 2009. He was appointed to the Fort Griffin SUD Board in the mid-90s and was later elected President. His experience with the Texas Legislature while at TSTC has been an asset in helping acquire grants for FGSUD expansion and infrastructure growth along with his world view from serving in the military. He and his fellow Board members are vested community members who bring a vast background of knowledge and varied experiences to the table as successful businessmen and women.
Sam Snyder, Vice President
I, Sam Snyder, graduated from Moran High School and from Texas Tech University, Cum Laude, with a BS degree in Animal Science/Business.
I have successfully run my own cow-calf enterprise since 1976 and continue to do so today. I recently served a full term (6 years) on the Texas Farm Bureau State Board of Directors in Waco, including 2 years as State Vice President, overseeing TXFB’s 16 companies and affiliates. This also included 2 years as a board member of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company in Jackson, MS. I serve as a Deacon at First Baptist Church in Albany. I have served as Vice President of FTG SUD from 1999 to the present. I have also served as president and/or vice president of the Moran ISD (current, Shackelford County Hospital Board, Moran Grain Cooperative, Callahan -Shackelford Counties Farm Bureau (Current), Shackelford County Appraiser District Board, Moran Rural Volunteer Fire Dept, Shackelford FSA committee, and our local crime stoppers board. (Maybe something else I’ve forgotten about). Since I have been on the FGSUD board, we have diligently planned for the future of our water system for long-term water supplies. We now have two sources available for our customers and are always looking for ways to reduce costs while keeping on top of ever-changing state and national regulations. The water business has changed drastically since I first came on board and changes every month/year with new regulations. Our customers can be assured that we, as a board, ALWAYS have our customers in mind, no matter what the rumors or scuttlebutt may say on social media. Experience, as with all boards, certainly makes a difference.
Ben Hale, Board Member
Ben Hale lives in Throckmorton and has served on the Fort Griffin Special Utility District Board since 2017. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Marketing in 1993. Ben is the Owner and President of Western Livestock Auctions, a business he has led since 1995, and he is actively involved in farming and ranching in Throckmorton County.
With a strong background in business and financial management, Ben is committed to responsible stewardship of district resources and to providing reliable water service at the lowest possible cost to customers. He believes water is one of our most vital resources and should be managed with long-term foresight, including planning for potential future challenges that could impact availability. Ben also values the experienced, hardworking employees who keep the district operating efficiently and understands the importance of supporting and retaining their knowledge and skills.
Ben and his wife, Aimee, have been married for 32 years and are proud parents of five children and grandparents to four.
Mike Bartock, Board Member
My name is Michael Bartock. I joined the military when I was 18 and retired after 38 years of service. I have traveled to many countries and sailed many oceans and seas. My career was in aircraft maintenance, working on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. After I retired, my wife and I moved from Florida to New Mexico, where I helped my brother in his RV business. In 2019, we moved to Breckenridge, Texas, and bought a house on the lake. When I joined the FGSUD to be a board member, I knew very little about what was expected. During my time as a board member, I attended several of the many water conferences the Texas Rural Water Association hosts here in Texas. They were very informative, and I did learn some very important information about how we treat water, how it gets to you, and, most importantly, the government and state regulations required to maintain and operate a water plant. My duty as a board member is to provide you, the customer, with safe, high-quality water and to provide our employees with the necessary equipment and supplies.
