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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;Registration
No. _____________</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2008</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 547.2pt"></font><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">UNITED
STATES</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Washington,
D.C. 20549</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">FORM
S-8</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SWIFT
ENERGY COMPANY</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="27%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Texas</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(State
      or other jurisdiction of</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">incorporation
      or organization)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="27%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">20-3940661</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(I.R.S.
      Employer</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Identification
      No.)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">16825
Northchase Dr., Suite 400</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Houston,
Texas 77060</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SWIFT
ENERGY COMPANY</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Laurent
A. Baillargeon</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">General
Counsel</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Swift
Energy Company</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">16825
Northchase Dr., Suite 400</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Houston,
Texas 77060</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;(Name
and address of agent for service)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(281)
874-2700</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Copies
to:</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="35%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Donald
      W. Brodsky</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Baker
      &amp; Hostetler, LLP</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">1000
      Louisiana, 20<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">th</font>
      Floor</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Houston,
      Texas 77002</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(713)
      646-1335</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="33%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Christopher
      M. Abundis</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Corporate
      Counsel and Assistant Secretary</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Swift
      Energy Company</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">16825
      Northchase Dr., Suite 400</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Houston,
      Texas 77060</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(281)
      874-2700</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company.&#160;&#160;See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221;
&#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="63%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Large
      accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">&#254;</font></font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Accelerated
      filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="63%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Non-accelerated
      filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font> (Do
      not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Smaller
      reporting company <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="30%" style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 2.55pt double; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Title
      of</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Securities
      to be Registered</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="17%" style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 2.55pt double; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amount</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">to
      be</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Registered(1)(2)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="15%" style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 2.55pt double; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Maximum</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Offering
      Price</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">per
      Share(3)(4)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="18%" style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 2.55pt double; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Maximum</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Aggregate</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Offering
      Price(3)(4)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="12%" style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 2.55pt double; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amount
      of</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Registration
      Fee(4)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Common
      Stock, $.01 par value per share(5)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="17%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">200,000
      shares</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="15%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$18.54</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="18%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$3,708,000</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 10.4pt"></font>$145.72</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(1)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Represents
      200,000 additional shares issuable under the Swift Energy Company Employee
      Stock Purchase Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities
      Act&#8221;), is deemed to include additional shares issuable under the terms of
      the Plan to prevent dilution resulting from any future stock split, stock
      dividend or similar transaction.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(3)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Estimated
      solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
  fee.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(4)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Calculated
      pursuant to Rule&#160;457(c) and (h).&#160;&#160;Accordingly, the price
      per share of the common stock offered hereunder pursuant to the Plan is
      based on 200,000 shares reserved for issuance under the Plan at a price
      per share of $18.54, which is the average of the highest and lowest
      selling price for the shares on the New York Stock Exchange on December
      12, 2008.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(5)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Each
      share of common stock is accompanied by a preferred share purchase right
      pursuant to the Rights Agreement (as amended and restated as of March 31,
      1999, and as further amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2 to
      Rights Agreement dated December 12, 2005 and December 21, 2006,
      respectively) between Swift Energy Company and American Stock Transfer
      &amp; Trust Company, as Rights
Agent.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 547.2pt"></font><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">REGISTRATION
OF ADDITIONAL SHARES</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">PURSUANT
TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>This Registration Statement on
Form&#160;S-8 (the &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;) of Swift Energy Company (the
&#8220;Company&#8221; or the &#8220;Registrant&#8221;) is being filed pursuant to General Instruction E
to Form&#160;S-8 under the Securities Act to register 200,000 additional shares
of the Company&#8217;s common stock, $0.01 par value (the &#8220;Common Stock&#8221;) under the
Swift Energy Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).&#160;&#160;This
Registration Statement on Form S-8 hereby incorporates by reference the contents
of the Registrant&#8217;s registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on June 15, 1994 (Registration No.&#160;3380228) and
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on December 29, 2005 (Registration
No.&#160;3380228).</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">PART
II</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item
8.&#160;&#160;Exhibits</font>.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="6%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Exhibit</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Number</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="71%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Description</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">5.1*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Opinion
      of Counsel</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.1*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Ernst &amp; Young LLP</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.2</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">24.1</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Powers
      of Attorney (contained in the signature pages to this Registration
      Statement)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">* Filed
herewith</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SIGNATURES</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on
Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston,
Texas, on the 17<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">th</font> day of
December, 2008.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="4%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="34%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="35%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">SWIFT
      ENERGY COMPANY</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="4%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="31%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="3%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">By:&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="33%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Terry E. Swift</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="4%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="31%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="33%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Terry
      E. Swift</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Chief
      Executive Officer and</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Chairman
      of the Board</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">POWER
OF ATTORNEY</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">KNOW ALL
PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below
hereby constitutes and appoints Terry E. Swift, Bruce H. Vincent and Alton D.
Heckaman, Jr., and each of them, each with full power to act without the other,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto each of said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person hereby
ratifying and confirming that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Signature</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="36%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Capacity</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="14%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Date</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Terry E. Swift</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
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            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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            </tr>
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
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            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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      Alton D. Heckaman, Jr.</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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            </tr>
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
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              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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      David W. Wesson</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      17, 2008</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
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</font></div>
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</font></div>
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</font></div>
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            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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              <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="bottom" width="36%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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              <td valign="bottom" width="14%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
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      Raymond E. Galvin</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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            </tr>
            <tr>
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                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Raymond
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
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              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Deanna L. Cannon</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
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                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Deanna
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="36%">
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      17, 2008</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Douglas J. Lanier</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Douglas
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="36%">
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      17, 2008</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Greg Matiuk</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
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                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Greg
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="36%">
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      17, 2008</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Henry C. Montgomery</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Henry
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              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="36%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      17, 2008</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Clyde W. Smith, Jr.</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Clyde
      W. Smith, Jr.</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="36%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      17, 2008</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Charles J. Swindells</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="26%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Charles
      J. Swindells</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="36%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="14%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      17, 2008</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">INDEX
TO EXHIBITS</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="6%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Exhibit</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Number</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="71%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Description</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">5.1*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Opinion
      of Counsel</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.1*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Ernst &amp; Young LLP</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.2</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="right" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">24.1</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Powers
      of Attorney (contained in the signature pages to this Registration
      Statement)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
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herewith</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "s-8_espp12172008.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 80484}]
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s-8_espp12172008.htm
Registration
No. _____________
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2008
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
——————————————————————————————————
FORM
S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
——————————————————————————————————
SWIFT
ENERGY COMPANY
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas
(State
      or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
      or organization)
20-3940661
(I.R.S.
      Employer
Identification
      No.)
16825
Northchase Dr., Suite 400
Houston,
Texas 77060
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
SWIFT
ENERGY COMPANY
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Laurent
A. Baillargeon
General
Counsel
Swift
Energy Company
16825
Northchase Dr., Suite 400
Houston,
Texas 77060
(Name
and address of agent for service)
(281)
874-2700
(Telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies
to:
Donald
      W. Brodsky
Baker
      & Hostetler, LLP
1000
      Louisiana, 20
th
Floor
Houston,
      Texas 77002
(713)
      646-1335
Christopher
      M. Abundis
Corporate
      Counsel and Assistant Secretary
Swift
      Energy Company
16825
      Northchase Dr., Suite 400
Houston,
      Texas 77060
(281)
      874-2700
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer,"
"accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large
      accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated
      filer
o
Non-accelerated
      filer
o
(Do
      not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller
      reporting company
o
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
      of
Securities
      to be Registered
Amount
to
      be
Registered(1)(2)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
      Price
per
      Share(3)(4)
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
      Price(3)(4)
Amount
      of
Registration
      Fee(4)
Common
      Stock, $.01 par value per share(5)
200,000
      shares
$18.54
$3,708,000
$145.72
(1)
Represents
      200,000 additional shares issuable under the Swift Energy Company Employee
      Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan").
(2)
Pursuant
      to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
      Act"), is deemed to include additional shares issuable under the terms of
      the Plan to prevent dilution resulting from any future stock split, stock
      dividend or similar transaction.
(3)
Estimated
      solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
  fee.
(4)
Calculated
      pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h).  Accordingly, the price
      per share of the common stock offered hereunder pursuant to the Plan is
      based on 200,000 shares reserved for issuance under the Plan at a price
      per share of $18.54, which is the average of the highest and lowest
      selling price for the shares on the New York Stock Exchange on December
      12, 2008.
(5)
Each
      share of common stock is accompanied by a preferred share purchase right
      pursuant to the Rights Agreement (as amended and restated as of March 31,
      1999, and as further amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2 to
      Rights Agreement dated December 12, 2005 and December 21, 2006,
      respectively) between Swift Energy Company and American Stock Transfer
      & Trust Company, as Rights
Agent.
REGISTRATION
OF ADDITIONAL SHARES
PURSUANT
TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E
This Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") of Swift Energy Company (the
"Company" or the "Registrant") is being filed pursuant to General Instruction E
to Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register 200,000 additional shares
of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock") under the
Swift Energy Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan").  This
Registration Statement on Form S-8 hereby incorporates by reference the contents
of the Registrant's registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on June 15, 1994 (Registration No. 3380228) and
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on December 29, 2005 (Registration
No. 3380228).
PART
II
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item
8.  Exhibits
.
Exhibit
Number
Description
5.1*
Opinion
      of Counsel
23.1*
Consent
      of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2
Consent
      of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Powers
      of Attorney (contained in the signature pages to this Registration
      Statement)
* Filed
herewith
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on
Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston,
Texas, on the 17
th
day of
December, 2008.
SWIFT
      ENERGY COMPANY
By:
/s/
      Terry E. Swift
Terry
      E. Swift
Chief
      Executive Officer and
Chairman
      of the Board
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL
PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below
hereby constitutes and appoints Terry E. Swift, Bruce H. Vincent and Alton D.
Heckaman, Jr., and each of them, each with full power to act without the other,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto each of said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person hereby
ratifying and confirming that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
Capacity
Date
/s/
      Terry E. Swift
Terry
      E. Swift
Chief
      Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chairman of the
      Board
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Bruce H. Vincent
Bruce
      H. Vincent
President
      and Director
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Alton D. Heckaman, Jr.
Alton
      D. Heckaman, Jr.
Executive
      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
      Financial Officer)
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      David W. Wesson
David
      W. Wesson
Controller
      (Principal Accounting Officer)
December
      17, 2008
Signature
Capacity
Date
/s/
      Raymond E. Galvin
Raymond
      E. Galvin
Vice-Chairman
      of the Board
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Deanna L. Cannon
Deanna
      L. Cannon
Director
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Douglas J. Lanier
Douglas
      J. Lanier
Director
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Greg Matiuk
Greg
      Matiuk
Director
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Henry C. Montgomery
Henry
      C. Montgomery
Director
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Clyde W. Smith, Jr.
Clyde
      W. Smith, Jr.
Director
December
      17, 2008
/s/
      Charles J. Swindells
Charles
      J. Swindells
Director
December
      17, 2008
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Description
5.1*
Opinion
      of Counsel
23.1*
Consent
      of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2
Consent
      of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Powers
      of Attorney (contained in the signature pages to this Registration
      Statement)
* Filed
herewith