Former Wharton resident Sam Golden, who grew up in the river bottoms off West Burleson Street, returned home Tuesday night to share his story of faith, family, and perseverance. Rising from humble beginnings, Golden became a top federal banking regulator before retiring as the OCC’s first ombudsman. He credited his grandmother’s lessons, strong faith, and Wharton’s tight-knit community for shaping his life. Golden, now a Houston business leader and founder of Prostate Action, Inc., discussed his new book ‘A Golden Legacy’ during a program at the Wharton County Historical Museum on North Richmond Road.