Parks and Wildlife official from East Texas dies of cancer
Posted/updated on: October 16, 2025 at 3:22 am
ANGELINA COUNTY – The Angelina County Sheriff’s is mourning the loss of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assistant commander Chad Gartman, who died of cancer on Sunday. Gartman, who was 52-years-old, had a lengthy 31-year career in law enforcement and became a Texas Peace Officer after he graduated from the Angelina College Police Academy in 1994. He served as a deputy constable in Nacogdoches County for almost six years before he joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and started patrolling in East Texas.
According to our news partner KETK and the sheriff’s office, Gartman became assistant commander of the TPWD in 2016. He managed vehicle acquisitions and fleet maintenance for the over 650 Texas Game Wardens vehicles across the state.
Gartman’s and his wife Ashley had two sons together. Ashley’s father is retired Angelina County Sheriff Kent Henson.
