Celebrating Public Art in Cass County

From downtown murals to historic paintings tucked inside our buildings, public art continues to enrich life here in Cass County.

As you drive through our towns, you may come across several striking murals by the late Bradley “Brad” Attaway, a gifted artist born in Marshall, Texas, on October 8, 1954. Brad showed a passion for art from an early age, eventually building a career that took him from Houston, where he worked as an artistic sign painter, to Galveston, where he helped restore the historic 1877 Tall Ship Elissa in 1982. He spent nearly a decade traveling the country painting interiors for new Schlotzsky’s locations.

Fortunately for us, Brad also left his mark right here in Cass County. His artwork is proudly displayed at the Veterans Plaza in downtown Atlanta. His paintings there include scenes from the Chosin Reservoir campaign of the Korean War, Arlington National Cemetery, and the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier. His murals also brighten the streets of downtown Linden. Brad passed away on February 17, 2016, but his vibrant legacy lives on. I encourage you to take a moment to enjoy his public works — and to bring visitors by to experience them as well.

There are other local treasures you might not know about. At the Atlanta Public Library, you’ll find a painting by Evelyn Beard depicting early days in Bivins, Texas. It’s displayed on the main floor, while downstairs in the Children’s Area, a colorful underwater mural brings joy to young readers. That section was painted by local artist Dan Griekspour and the late Jackie Icenhower, a beloved former librarian whose contributions to the library remain deeply appreciated since her passing in 2021.

In Linden, the local Post Office houses a unique and historic piece of New Deal-era public art. Titled The Last Crop, this mural was painted in 1938 by Russian-born artist Victor Arnautoff. It captures a powerful image of life in Linden during the Great Depression, showing three people harvesting cotton by hand. The mural stands as a tribute to the resilience and labor of countless individuals in Cass County and beyond who worked tirelessly to support their families.

The Last Crop was installed on September 18, 1939, as part of a national effort under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Arts Programs. Between 1934 and 1943, the Treasury Department commissioned more than 1,600 murals and sculptures for post offices across the country — all aimed at uplifting communities during hard times. This mural in Linden is particularly special; it’s the only Arnautoff piece outside California or Ukraine. Although it was altered at some point before 1972, a restoration in 1996 returned it to its original form.

Post offices were once among the most visible signs of federal presence in local communities, and through artwork like this, they also became centers of cultural heritage. These public artworks connect us to the past and continue to inspire pride in our shared history.

So next time you’re near one of these locations, I hope you’ll stop and take a closer look. Cass County is home to more art than you might think — and it’s all part of what makes our community such a special place to call home.

Art in the Halls of the Cass County Justice Center If you’ve visited the Cass County Justice Center recently, you may have noticed something special — local artwork now lines the halls, bringing color and life to what were once plain gray walls.

Thanks to the efforts of 903 Artisans, the Justice Center has become home to a rotating art exhibit that changes with the seasons. Over the past three years, this collaboration has transformed our building into a space that not only serves the public but also celebrates the creativity of our local artists.

It’s common to see county employees and visitors pause to admire the pieces displayed in the front hallway — a small moment of beauty in the middle of a busy day.

So whether you’re here to renew a driver’s license, pay taxes, update vehicle tags, or serve on jury duty, I encourage you to take a moment to enjoy the artwork. It’s a simple way to brighten your day — and a reminder of the talent we have right here in Cass County.

CASS COUNTY PIONEER PROFILE

This week’s Cass County Pioneer profile is baseball player Cliff Bell. Clifford W. Bell was born on July 2, 1896, in Kildare, Texas. Not much is known about Bell’s early life in Cass County, but Bell developed into a talented pitcher in the Negro Baseball League. He played for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1924, when the team went to the Colored World Series. His Monarchs teammates described Bell as a man of few words, who was known for throwing a screwball. After the Monarchs, Bell pitched for the Memphis Red Sox, then the Cleveland Cubs. In total, Bell played in the league from 1921 to 1931. Cliff Bell passed away on April 13, 1952, at 55 years old.

by: Misty Golden, Texas A&MTexarkana Graduate Student

Texas Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program The Railroad Commission of Texas is looking to help landowners who have abandoned underground or surface mining features on their property. Properties eligible for funds can get those mining features reclaimed and restored through the Texas AML Program. If you have features such as sinkholes, mine shafts, depressions, mine equipment, gob piles or highwalls and suspect they may have been caused by past mining activities, please contact Katherine Upham, Abandoned Mine Land Program Surface Mining and Reclamation Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas at 512-939-6046 or AML@rrc.texas.gov.

Cass County is Hiring

Dispatcher - A dispatcher receives calls for service or assistance from the public; communicates orders to direct appropriate services to the given address; relays instructions and/ or questions to/from responding units.

Deputy District Clerk - The District Clerk Deputy Clerk performs a variety of clerical duties in support of District Clerk’s Office operations; prepares courtroom and/or other types of legal documentation; and provides customer service to the public.

For more information check out https://www.co.cass.tx.us/page/cass.Jobs.Openings

Ark-Tex Council of Governments is Hiring

Finance Director - Lead and manage ATOG’s financial operations, ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations.

TRAX Driver - Texarkana - Provide safe, reliable transportation services to community members.

Administrative Assistant - Front Desk - Texarkana - Responsible for greeting the public; handling telephone calls; and for providing secretarial, clerical and administrative support services as required.

For more information check out https://atcog.applicantpro. com/jobs/

Upcoming Events

Saturday August 16th at Music City Texas Theater in Linden - Hickory Hill - The Kings of Texas Folk Grass take the stage at 7:30pm. Tickets available at 903-756-9934 or https:// www.musiccitytexas.org/ Reach out to my office — P.O. Box 825 Linden, TX 75563 Phone: 903-756-5181, Ext. 0 Fax: 903-756-5732