09-03-2025
Bills introduced to rename part of SH 11 after Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle
DAINGERFIELD, Texas (KETK) – East Texas lawmakers have introduced bills to rename part of State Highway 11 to honor fallen U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle.
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State Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) and State House Representative Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) have both introduced bills to rename the section of State Highway 11 from Daingerfield to Hughes Springs as Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway.
Castle died on May 11, 2005 after he was injured by an improvised explosive device while on deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
'SSG Castle's ultimate sacrifice is worthy of the highest recognition and brings great credit to the citizens of Hughes Springs, Cass County and the State of Texas,' Cass County Judge Travis Ransom said. 'He served honor, integrity and devotion to his country and his brothers and sisters in arms. The naming of a portion of Texas State Highway 11 and 49 in Morris County, Texas as 'Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway' will help serve to perpetuate the memory of a local hero.'
According to Ransom's Cass County Connect newsletter from Feb. 28, 2025, Castle was a dual-sport athlete in basketball and football before he graduated from Hughes Springs High School in 1996.
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He then attended Tyler Junior College before enlisting into the United States Army's 327th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The Cass and Morris County Commissioner's Courts have both unanimously passed resolutions supporting the designation which is proposed in Hughes' SB 1369 and VanDeaver's HB 3354.
SB 1369 was referred to the Texas Senate's Committee on Transportation on Thursday.
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