Sam Sparks

Sam Sparks was born on September 27, 1939, in Austin, Texas. In 1957, he graduated from Austin High School in Austin where he was president of his senior class, a member of the National Honor Society, and he participated in varsity athletics. Judge Sparks entered the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 1957. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961 and a Bachelor of Law degree in May of 1963. His university activities included varsity athletics and student government as well as being elected Foreman (president) of the Texas Cowboys.

In 1963, Judge Sparks moved to El Paso and began the practice of law as law clerk to the Honorable Homer Thornberry, who at that time was a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division. Judge Sparks entered private practice in June 1965 as an associate with the law firm of Hardie, Grambling, Sims & Galatzan. He was admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Tenth Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court. When he left Grambling & Mounce in 1991, Judge Sparks was the Executive Officer. After accepting the appointment of United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, on October 1, 1991, Judge Sparks took the oath of office on December 7, 1991, and thereafter returned to Austin.

Judge Sparks married Melinda Echols of Fort Worth in 1995. Judge Sparks' marriage to Arden Reed of Houston, Texas, from 1962 until her death in 1990, produced four sons. Judge and Mrs. Sparks now enjoy a blended family of six children and seven grandchildren. Since 1978, Judge Sparks has been certified in the fields of Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His professional associations include the American College of Trial Lawyers (Judicial Fellow), the American Board of Trial Advocates (Advocate), Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow), and membership in the State Bar of Texas, the Fifth Circuit District Judges Association, and the Federal Judges Association. In 2005, Judge Sparks was named Trial Judge of the Year by the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2007, Judge Sparks was selected to serve as Federal Judicial Liaison to the SBOT Board of Directors. In 2010, he was honored by the American College of Trial Lawyers with its prestigious Sandra Day O'Connor Jurist Award in recognition of his independence, courage, and commitment to the Rule of Law.