Council honors outgoing member with plaque

The man who served on the Cass County Council longer than any other member attended his last meeting Friday.

Councilman Dan Kitchel was recognized with a plaque.

Kitchel, who was appointed by Republican precinct committeemen in 1985 to replace Lee Wayne Yeakley, ran for a full term the following year. That was the first of five terms as the council representative from District 4, which encompasses the southeast quadrant of the county.

Kitchel, a Galveston Republican, will be succeeded by Brian Reed, nephew of former Councilman Joe Reed.

Before Kitchel, former Council President Merlyn Raikes had the longest council tenure in county history at 20 years.