Joseph "Joe" Burt Dial passed away on December 18, 2024.

Joe was born in Kilgore, Texas, on April 27, 1936 to parents, William Andrew Dial and Grace (Spaulding) Dial. Joe graduated high school from Texas Military Institute in San Antonio, Texas. He went on to the University of Texas in Austin, later getting his degree from the University of Maryland.

In his younger years he was a rancher in south Texas and was involved in raising and promoting the Brahman breed in the United States and in other countries. Agriculture was a way of life for him for many years.

In 1991 George H. W. Bush appointed Joe a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He was confirmed by the Senate. Joe chose a cornfield in south Texas to be the place where he was officially sworn into office.

On April 17, 1993 Joe married Marilyn Scott Smith in Alexandria, Virginia.

When Joe's term at C.F.T.C. ended, he accepted a fellowship at Harvard University at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government. Joe and Marilyn moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, for the Spring Semester.

In 2000, after completing his fellowship, Joe and Marilyn moved to Dallas, Texas. Joe became active in the Former Texas Ranger Association in honor of his father who was a Texas Ranger. In 2004, Joe and Marilyn moved to Saint Jo, Texas. Joe served in the Chamber of Commerce and was involved in civic pursuits in Saint Jo as well as around the county. He was a founding member of Leadership Montague County. After returning to Texas, Joe also began consulting work with other countries, assisting them in creating or upgrading regulatory agencies for commodity markets.

Joe is survived by Marilyn Dial and Walter Smith of Saint Jo, Texas. He is also survived by four children from a previous marriage: Joseph A. Dial, Catherine Dial Easly, Emily Dial Heard, Peggy Dial, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Joe was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. He was the epitome of a "good and faithful servant."

Memorials may be made to Easy Street Animal Shelter in Saint Jo, Texas or Cal Farley's Boy's Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.