The Grand Duke from Boys Ranch – My Review

“Then I had to call the parents of those children who had not been accepted. They always cried, asking me what would happen to their son. Every night I went to bed agonizing over what would happen to the other fourteen boys.”

First – this is not your typical politician story.

Second – if you are a lover of Texas history, then you will learn some history along the way.

Third – Bill Sarpalius loves dogs.

The Grand Duke from Boys Ranch is a recounting of Bill Sarpalius’s life. Once you read or hear the word politician you immediately think “Oh, a rich guy or woman!” That’s not the case with Bill. His story recounts almost painfully at times, his life of turmoil before becoming a US Congressman. Told with no highfaluting language, it’s a down to earth narration of his experiences growing up, attending college, to his life in Washington, D.C.

He had me in tears at one point in the story recalling how he saved one young boy in Littlefield. My stomach was turning until I realized Bill took some poetic license in retelling this young boy’s story. The geography of the town does not allow this to be true. There was never a gas station across from any school in Littlefield. I should know because my dad and my uncle owned several in Littlefield during the time Bill is recounting this story. If the story is indeed true from that small town, then I would like to have seen a follow-up in the book on the boy in the story.

Besides that, there were a couple of things I think would improve the book from my perspective – some summarizing of passages and adding some excerpts of some of his speeches that propelled him to what he became. What moved those people so much during his speeches?

Sarpalius’s story is inspiring because it gives hope to anyone that no matter what life throws at you, you can become more and succeed at doing good.

“The morale of our people is high,” he said. “There are at least a thousand people in the courtyard between the wall and the parliament building day and night, ready to defend this building against a Soviet attack.”

There are clever bits of history throughout the book like the bills he helped get passed here in Texas to him being instrumental in helping Lithuania. Of course, he did what he could to help dogs in Texas. I naturally admire anyone who loves dogs as much as I do.