Leo Berman, taking a moment to relax recently in his Tyler office, reflects on how his time in the State Legislature has been affected by people and events in his personal life. "I didn't choose my wife; God did," Leo Berman said with a smile. "Both times."

Even as nuanced issues, like immigration and appraisal caps, demand his thoughts and energy these days, he finds encouragement and inspiration close to home. With eight years in the office of State Representative, Berman has plenty to reflect on.

He remembers the thrill of being elected the first time upon retiring to East Texas after a career in the U.S. Army and a stint as a businessman in Arlington.

Unfortunately, it was in the early days of that first term that his wife of 33 years, Cara Sue, was diagnosed with a form of ovarian cancer.

"When Cara Sue died, I never expected to marry again," Berman said. "But God had other plans."

Smith County Sheriff J. B. Smith introduced Berman to Lou Ann Cook at a TJC banquet they all attended.

"I arrived by myself," Berman said, remembering the night for two reasons. He remembers that he "was in horrible pain" because of a kidney stone. He ended the evening in the hospital.

He also remembers his first impression of Lou Ann.

"I thought, 'She has a tender heart,'" Berman said, adding with a smile, "and I saw that Dr. in front of her name and knew she had to be smart to be a P.H.D."

Their next encounter was providential, according to Berman.

He received a late invitation to a TJC luncheon and since his calendar happened to be open that day, something that rarely happens in the life of an elected official, he decided to attend.

He learned later that Lou Ann was called at the last minute and asked as a favor to come fill an empty seat at the head table.

She also told him later that she perceived him to be a "highly elected official" and would never have initiated a conversation with him.

"I don't think of myself that way," Berman said, who took the opportunity to talk to one of the "most beautiful" women he had ever seen.

He approached his effort strategically by asking her first if she would put one of his signs in her front yard, since he was running for re-election at the time.

When she said yes, he asked the more important question, would she attend a performance of the Black Watch, an international bagpipe and drum group, the next weekend at UT Tyler's Cowen Center.

"They were so inspiring, they gave you chills," Berman said of the group; a good way to begin a new romance.

From that first date, they saw each other every day until they were married a year later by the Rev. David Galloway, then-Rector at Christ Episcopal Church, in the Lieutenant Governor's Reception Room in the Texas State Capitol.

Berman said he loves to brag about Lou Ann's own accomplishments, saying, "She has served on almost every nonprofit board in Tyler."

Besides their wedding, one of Berman's other favorite moments happened in the Texas State Capitol before the most recent session and is captured in a photo on his desk in Austin.

With his family gathered on the House floor around his desk, Berman raised his hand for the swearing-in ceremony that happens before each session of the legislature.

Maryn, who is a toddler and the youngest of his grandchildren, climbed on his desk and began punching his electronic voting buttons.

He thinks she might have a future as a representative.

Another highlight of the recent session for Berman was the effort necessary to retain funding for UT Tyler.

Because of the school's excellent nursing and engineering programs, the wording of the original budget meant that UT Tyler, a school which has seen double digit growth in enrollment several times over in the last five years, would have, however, suffered a 3 percent decrease in funding, a change that would have meant "turning away students," according to Berman.

He was delighted when House Speaker Tom Craddick, called recently and said, "Leo, you owe me a cup of coffee."

It seems that Craddick went to bat for the provision Berman included in a bill to correct the discrepancy against institutions like UT Tyler, preventing a veto.

Berman added that when it comes to state business, "We are the envy of every state in the Union because our budget was fiscally responsible," including $2.5 billion surplus and $4.3 billion surplus going into the "rainy day" fund before the beginning of the next session in January 2009.

The father of five, grandfather of eight, and great-grandfather of two, Berman sees his work in the legislature in terms of future generations.

Because of his grandkids, Berman additionally claims to have seen the Disney version of Cinderella "a 100 times recently."

So, he said, happy endings are on his mind.

"And they all lived happily ever after," says Berman with a smile, "That is exactly what is happening. God has just blessed us here."