Sam was born in Lubbock, Texas and attended Lubbock Public Schools and Texas Tech University. Sam is the third-generation owner of Chas. S. Middleton and Son, which was established by Sam’s grandfather, Charles Middleton, in 1920. Sam is very proud to own and operate one of, if not the oldest farm - ranch real estate/appraisal companies in Texas. In 2020 the company celebrated 100 years of service to the agricultural industry.

Sam has always been interested in the appraisal side of the business, and he holds the ARA (Accredited Rural Appraisal) designation through the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ARA) and Sam is a licensed State-Certified Appraiser. Sam is a licensed Real Estate Broker in five states, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas. Over the years, Sam has sold some of the largest ranch properties in the Southwest Region of United States. He feels very fortunate to have inherited a substantial customer base and a strong reputation founded by Sam’s father and grandfather. Over the years, Sam has sold a number of ranches several times and he believes repeat business is the best compliment a company can have. Sam is also proud to have fifteen knowledgeable salesmen positioned throughout Texas and New Mexico, with five of the salesmen also being State Certified and/or Accredited Rural Appraisers.

Sam and his wife, Patricia, have been married for 54 years and have two sons, Charlie, who is now a partner in Chas. S. Middleton and Son with Sam, and Jed who runs the family ranching operation. Charlie and Jed are both married, and Sam and Patricia are proud of their sons, daughters-in-law, and their five grandchildren. Sam is past President of the Ranching Heritage Center and recently served as Board Member of Covenant Children’s Hospital. He previously served on the All-Saints School Board and the American Wind Power Museum Board. Currently, Sam serves on the Executive Board of Directors of the Equestrian Center and on the Advisory Board of the Ranch Management Master’s Degree Program at Texas Tech University. In 2021, Sam was honored to receive the Gerald W. Thomas, Outstanding Agriculturalist Award for Agribusiness presented by the College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University. In 2024, Texas Tech University Department of Animal and Food Sciences awarded Sam their Distinguished Service Award and inducted him into the Animal and Food Sciences Hall of Fame. Currently, Sam serves on the Advisory Board of Peoples Bank. In 2024, Sam authored the book Swapping Dirt, which chronicles numerous stories about ranches Sam has sold, and people Sam has met throughout his life. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to the Ranching Heritage Association, Texas Tech University.