Poteau has been my home since childhood, where I was raised by my late parents, Lloyd and Dora Pickel. I graduated from Poteau High School in 1979 and have built my life here with my wife, Carol. Combined, we have five grown children—Jennifer (and husband, Michael Bailey), Julie (and husband, Logan Hayes), Mark (and wife, Gillian Pickel), Morgan Pickel, and Hannah Kannady—all of whom attended Poteau Public Schools. We are also proud grandparents to seven wonderful grandchildren.
After 42 years of dedicated service with the Poteau Fire Department—22 of which I served as Fire Chief—I recently retired. Throughout my tenure, I worked to improve the department by helping build and customize firetrucks, making them more efficient for our firefighters. Leading such an outstanding team was a privilege, and the brotherhood we shared will always hold a special place in my heart. My role as Fire Chief also allowed me to collaborate with various city departments and attend City Council meetings, giving me firsthand experience with city operations.
In addition to my public service, I have been a business owner in Poteau since 1993, when I purchased the Poteau Theatre. In 1995, I restored and reopened the Tower Drive-In, a beloved part of our community. For nearly three decades, my family operated both theaters until the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately led to the closure of the Poteau Theatre. However, we are proud to continue running the Tower Drive-In, which remains one of only 268 drive-in theaters still operating in the United States.
As a lifelong Poteau resident, I have always been committed to improving our community in any way I can. Many know me as the local “builder and fixer” because of the numerous projects I have had the privilege of working on throughout the years. One example of this is my work with the City Pool which was completed outside of my role with the Fire Department. When faced with operational issues, I took it upon myself to investigate issues causing the demise of the pool operations and discovered a leak caused by a flaw in the original construction. I came up with a solution, and with the help of some fellow firemen, we corrected the problem. The City Council then approved funding to address the remaining cosmetic issues and get the pool back up and running for the public.
Now, I am eager to bring my experience, leadership, and dedication to the Poteau City Council. I would be honored to serve our great city and work toward making it an even better place for all of us. I humbly ask for your support and your vote on April 1, 2025.
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