[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARTER 
                                CASTEEL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2005

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carter Casteel 
for her service to the people of Texas.
  Carter Casteel was born in Monahans, Texas. She comes from a family 
with a tradition of public service; her mother was Monahans city 
secretary during the community's early founding, and was one of the 
first women elected to office in West Texas.
  Ms. Casteel studied at the University of Texas, where she majored in 
government and history. She received her Masters from Southwest Texas 
State University, and moved with her husband and children to New 
Braunfels.
  After a stint as a public school teacher in Comal, she attended law 
school and began practicing law in 1985. She was elected to the office 
of Comal County Judge in 1990, and served there until 1999. She was 
elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2001, and works to 
represent the Texas Hill country and its interests.
  In addition to her public service career, Carter Casteel has found 
time to run a successful law practice, Casteel and Casteel, with her 
son. She has also been involved in a wide variety of community 
organizations, including the Comal County United Way, Communities in 
Schools, Habitat For Humanity, and the Texas Historic Courthouse 
Preservation Committee. She had the honor of being appointed to the 
Battleship Texas Advisory Board by President George W. Bush, and has 
served as President of the Comal Independent School District Board of 
Trustees.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout her career, Carter Casteel has been an 
advocate for education, tax reduction, preservation of natural 
resources and the community values for which the Hill Country of Texas 
is known. She has done a great deal of good for her community, and I am 
pleased to have this opportunity to offer her my thanks.

                          ____________________