City Council member dies
Ward 1 Council Member Bradfield Casteel, who died Monday, will be remembered as a sharp dresser with an even sharper mind who always spoke up for those in his ward.
“He was very passionate about items he brought before the council such as good working conditions for employees,” said Mayor Bob Bruggeman. “He felt like appearance was very
important so he led the effort in trying to get an ordinance passed on sagging pants.”
Bruggeman said he was always impressed that Casteel, 65, a native of Texarkana, wore a three piece suit, along with a matching hat, tie and shoes to all meetings.
“He felt it was important as an elected official to display a professional image at council meetings,” Bruggeman said.
Casteel was substitute teaching on Friday at College Hill Elementary School when he had to be taken to the hospital regarding complaints with his heart and passed away from complications on Monday.
“He was a giant of a man. He worked with our special population kids and took on jobs that weren’t even his,” said Lea Metcalf, principal at College Hill Elementary. “He would always try to teach the kids about being a good citizen… when we took him to the emergency room he was still asking who was looking after the kids. He will be sorely missed.”
He was the father of five children and had a wife named Lizz Casteel. Casteel’s son, ElRoddrick Casteel, said his father was always admired in their family.
“He was just a strong individual who was a knowledgeable and smart guy and he believed in what he said,” ElRoddrick Casteel said. “My grandmother said a long time ago he was a real smart guy and she believed him in what he said.”
Casteel took his place on the council in 2012 and has served since. Ward 2 Council Member Willie Ray said she has been on the council for 30 years but learned a lot from Casteel, who sat right beside her.
“He was very open and honest about what he felt and believed in and he was very aware and very smart,” Ray said. “He helped me a lot. If I got out of line he would say, ‘ Ms. Ray, that doesn’t make sense to me.’ His whole sole thing was to do a good job for the people. He was interested in getting things done and I’m going to miss him. He was from the old school. He was very stern, very frank and he was going to say what he was going to say.” Casteel was a frequently called upon substitute teacher in Texarkana, Ark., School District. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service in the Houston area after 33 years and also had worked for Red River Army Depot and was a veteran of the U.S. Army., a member of Polly Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and also coached little league baseball and football for more than 15 years. Casteel also worked in the community as a GED instructor to help residents in local juvenile detention facilities.
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott has requested that flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of the life and public service of Casteel beginning today and ending at the close of the day of his memorial service when it is set by the family. The City of Texarkana, Ark., will lower flags to halfstaff per Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison’s office as well.
Casteel was known to speak up for city employees as he did when the new employee handbook was being passed earlier this year. Casteel wanted to make sure city employees received time off they earned and spoke about this at several meetings while the handbook was being discussed.
Ward 4 Council Member Dr. Brian Matthews said he respected Casteel for how much he wanted the city employees to have a good quality of life and have a fair outcome on any issues that came up before the council. “He was very candid about his thoughts regarding city policies and he was serious about governance, protocol,” Matthews said. “But most importantly, he had a caring heart.” Ward 3 Council Member Tina Veal-Gooch said she also was impressed with how well Casteel represented his ward and how, no matter what, he always had a good nature both before and after a heated debate.
“He was very good about getting his constituents’ needs addressed and if he was firm in his beliefs, he would stand firm, you could not move him,” VealGooch said. “In all his debates he was just as cordial as before the debate. And I will never forget how the man dressed to the nines.”
With Casteel’s passing, the council can either leave the seat vacant until next May, appoint a citizen from Ward 1 or have an election, Bruggeman said.