MADISONVILLE-A man described as a "friend to everyone in Madisonville" died Thursday night after battling illness since last year.

Ted Cagle had been Madisonville's city recorder for more than two decades, and had just won re-election to the seat last November. A popular recorder, Cagle was rarely challenged at election time.

"He was a good friend," Madisonville Mayor Alfred McClendon said of Cagle. "I'd known him since he was 6 or 7 years old. He was a friend to everyone and couldn't sit down in a restaurant because everybody wanted to shake his hand or pat him on the back."

Cagle, who as city recorder ran City Hall, was known for being willing to help anyone, even if the problem in question didn't involve him.

"He'd handle anything that came his way," Madisonville Police Chief Gregg Breeden said. "It could be a problem with my department and he'd take care of it, even if he wasn't responsible for it."

See full story in the Sunday, Feb. 24, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.