DALLAS, TX — Graham native David Casteel has been unanimously elected President of the Associated General Contractors of Texas, a group representing more than 700 member companies employing tens of thousands of the men and women that build and maintain the state’s vast network of roads and bridges.

Casteel, Vice President of Williams Brothers Construction Co, Inc. with current projects in Houston, San Antonio, Arlington, and Beaumont, was elected to a one-year term.

More than 500 million miles a day are driven on the nearly 200,000 lane miles of pavement managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. AGC of Texas members account for approximately 80 percent of all the TxDOT construction and maintenance projects.

“The AGC is an important voice to the public, the Texas Legislature, and nationally for the industry that keeps Texas moving. Our work touches every Texan and our industry is proud of what we do,” Casteel said. “It is a privilege to be elected by the members to this position and to help this great industry continue to grow with Texas.”

Before joining Williams Bros in 2015, Casteel served as City Manager in Graham after retiring from the Texas Department of Transportation in late 2011. His TxDOT career included positions as Assistant Executive Director of the 12,000-employee agency. Before rising to the headquarter executive ranks, Casteel was the District Engineer in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Childress and on an interim basis in Laredo. He also held various positions at TxDOT in Abilene, Big Spring, Vernon, Graham, and Bowie. Additionally, he was a Researcher at the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M concurrent with TxDOT as part of a joint program. His research focused on improving highway construction work zone safety.

In 2020, Texas experienced more than 22,000 traffic crashes in road construction work zones with 186 fatalities.

“We preach safety. It’s the priority theme for employers and construction crews. It’s a top issue for TxDOT,” Casteel said. “And it’s a priority theme that all of us in the industry try to convey to the traveling public. It’s been more than 21 years since we had a fatality-free day on our Texas roads and highways. Our goal is that each of our employees and every Texan makes it home safe, every day.”

Casteel holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and completed the Governor’s Executive Development Program at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. He is a registered Professional Engineer and Certified Design-Build Professional.