Sam was born on August 12, 1933, in Hobart, Indiana,[1] to parents recently emigrated from Romania.
Hr received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in 1957.
He was a United States Air Force Captain in the JAG Corps from 1961 to 1963.
[2][3][4] Sam was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on September 9, 1985, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Utah vacated by Judge Aldon J. Anderson.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 16, 1985, and received commission the same day.