Arthur John “Jack” Hartel, III passed away very peacefully on May 22, 2014 at the age of 80.  The Honorable Jack Hartel, Liberty County Attorney from 1965 to 2008, was born in Houston, Texas on November 19, 1933, the son of Arthur John “Artie” Hartel, Jr. and Blanche Eleanor Riviére Hartel.
If you had the pleasure of knowing Artie and Blanche, you’d understand the basis for Jack’s deep-rooted sense of community and responsibility to help others.  It was well known that Artie would often reach into his own pocket to lend money to someone in need, and his mother Blanche dedicated her life to teaching and volunteering in her community and beloved Catholic Church.  Jack grew up with his two sisters Jane Hartel Ripkowski and Joe Ann Hartel Root in Hull and Liberty, Texas; he was devoted to his family, and the three siblings literally reared their families alongside each other, with their houses all in a row along Milam Street!
Following an interesting and fun-filled childhood, Jack was graduated from Liberty High School in 1951 then went to "Heaven on Earth" – otherwise known as The University of Texas at Austin.  At UT, Jack had the time of his life meeting new friends and making lifetime memories with his dear cousin Bernard Riviére.  Jack was an officer of both the Texas Cowboys (famous for firing the “Smokey” cannon at Longhorn football games) and the Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity, where he was both Rush Chairman and Social Chairman.  He received his BA in Liberal Arts from The University of Texas at Austin in 1956, and married his high school sweetheart Laura Jane Finley on September 7, 1957.  Jack earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas Law School; he was graduated with honors as a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Honor Fraternity from UT Law School in 1960.
After receiving his law degree, Jack returned to Liberty with Laura where he worked for the late Preston Johnson and the Pickett Law Firm.  Jack served as Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and CPS Legal Counsel Advocate and found his calling in public service.  After a short stint as Assistant City Attorney, Jack ran for Liberty County Attorney in 1965; as luck would have it, he won the election and went on to run unopposed for 10 subsequent terms before retiring in December 2008.  During his many years at the courthouse, Jack had the honor and privilege of working with some of the finest people in the state of Texas.  As Liberty County Attorney his motto was “Serving all the people all the time,” and for 44 years he made a significant positive impact upon the community as he strove to balance his innate sense of fairness and compassion with the law on a daily basis. After leaving public office, Jack planned to continue his private law practice in his office on the courthouse square, but an accidental fall just one month into his new adventure forced him to close the legal chapter of his life in 2009.
Banking was in Jack’s blood – in 1913 his uncle Bert G. Riviére founded First Liberty National Bank (formerly named Liberty State Bank), and his father Artie Hartel served as President of the Bank from 1939 to 1956.  Throughout his life Jack was involved in First Liberty National Bank and from 1960 to 2009 served on the Board of Trustees as well as many committees; he was very proud of the growth and stability of the Bank.  Jack was Vice President and board member of the Rotary Club, and for several years served on the board of the Magnolia Ridge Country Club.  In addition, Jack served as an officer in the Cancer Society of South Liberty County, March of Dimes Liberty Chapter, Liberty Historical Society, and Chamber of Commerce.  Over the years he was also a member of the Elks Lodge and the Liberty Jaycees.
From his childhood years as a Boy Scout, state-ranked tennis player, and Liberty Panther quarterback to his perfect attendance for over 40 years with the Rotary Club, Jack was always the kind of man who juggled several balls at once – and did so successfully.
Being able to balance his public and private interests was a key part of Jack’s private life as well – he remained active in the community and was especially proud of the achievements that were made during his tenure as a Board member of the Tri-County Mental Health Mental Retardation system. The organization was formed in 1983, and Jack served actively on the Board from 1986 until his accidental fall in 2009.
Jack enjoyed his leisure time with gusto – his life, and necessarily, that of his family, was fashioned around the UT football schedule; in the fall you would find Jack enduring rain, sleet, snow, or 100+ temperatures watching his beloved ‘Horns  –  wherever they traveled.  Jack was famous for scheduling ALL activities around the football schedule and persuading family members to do the same – more than one family wedding was planned by first checking the UT schedule!  
If not watching college or professional sports, Jack could often be found in the stands watching one of his three grandchildren play football, baseball, soccer, basketball or volleyball.  He enjoyed beach vacations with his family and traveling and going on cruises with friends.  Jack was a devout Catholic and could be spotted at Mass every week, wielding the collection basket with enthusiasm at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  He’d like to say he enjoyed cooking with his pals Bobby Evans, Tommy Mullins, Bobby Dean Blake, and Joe Blake, but it’s more accurate to say that over the years he was a very loyal “supervisor” for barbeque and other cook-off activities, usually trying to direct the others' activities while sitting comfortably enjoying a cold beverage.  He always made sure that he was on the serving line, though, and got lots of undue credit for his cooking over the years!  A true extrovert, Jack was also a regular in the “Old Timers” breakfast club, and Bobby and Jack are founding members of the popular “Prayer Meeting,” where many a Liberty County poker game has been won or lost amongst friends.
Jack was a “Renaissance” man, with a surprising span of talents – often he would pop up in the cast of a local musical.  He couldn’t resist hamming it up in local Valley Players productions since being cast by his wife Laura Jane in 1776 in the '70s.   Jack recounted his favorite roles as Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady, Mayor Shinn in The Music Man, and Fagin in Oliver and was known to burst into dialogue in the midst of Liberty County court proceedings.  Jack especially enjoyed the fact that in many of the productions he was able to share the stage with his family members.
Liberty County was Jack’s home and he loved it, as he was loved by his family and friends.  Most special thanks and love go to Michael Henderson, Daphne Dickerson, and Ruthie Minix, who showed loyalty, companionship and loving care to Jack in his last years.  His family also extends a sincere and heart-felt thank you to all of Jack’s doctors, nurses and therapists, especially the staff at Odyssey Hospice, Angels Above Us, Methodist Hospital Houston, and Touchstone Neurorecovery Conroe.
Jack will be deeply missed by his three daughters Laurie Hartel Vaught of Liberty, Angie Hartel Patterson and husband Blake Patterson of Austin, and Jackie Hartel of Liberty as well as beloved grandchildren Jake Vaught, Finley Patterson, and Ava Patterson.  Jack is also survived by his sister Jane Hartel Ripkowski, four nieces, four nephews, and their families.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Laura Jane Finley Hartel (dcd. October 18, 2001), his mother Blanche Eleanor Riviére Hartel, father Arthur John Hartel, Jr., sister Joe Ann Hartel Root, son-in-law Nicky Joe Vaught, and brothers-in-law John Dallas Root and Herman Edward Ripkowski.
Honoring Jack as pallbearers are Jay Arnold, Russell Boles, Jim Bob Evans, Steve Maxwell, Artie Ripkowski, David Ripkowski, Jay Root and Joey Root.  Honorary Pallbearers are Bobby Evans, Tommy Mullins, Ed Pickett, Carl Pickett, and members of the "Prayer Meeting" group, Liberty Rotary Club, and the "Old Timers Breakfast Club.”  Jack would be pleased if memorial donations were made to Tri-County Services, P. O. Box 306, Conroe, TX  77305 or to Immaculate Conception Church, 411 Milam Street, Liberty, Texas 77575.

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