James M. Steele Accelerated High School Namesake

Written by Cindy Chapman

James M. Steele was a long-time Roanoke resident with strong ties to Northwest ISD. Beginning in the 1960s, James and his wife, Johnnie, were prominent figures in the community as they volunteered at Roanoke Elementary and served at Roanoke Church of Christ. Mr. Steele was a prominent businessman as he opened his first country store in Roanoke and then later built Steele’s Affiliated Country Market on Highway 114. As a respected school board member for NISD, Mr. Steele was encouraged to run for school board president in 1975. The Steele family has a long legacy of NISD attendees, including several of his great-grandchildren.