Texarkana mourned the passing of a local legend this week.
For many years Joe Neal Oliver warmly welcomed diners at his restaurant, the Cattleman's Steak House on State Line.
Wearing his signature red apron, Oliver made sure everyone felt at home and everyone enjoyed great food and friendly, attentive service. It was a tradition he inherited from his father, Roy Oliver, who opened the Cattleman's in 1964.
It was one of the Twin Cities' most popular eateries until it closed in 2022, the same year it was named to the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. And you might say in the 1960s into the early 1970s, the Cattleman's, along with another steakhouse, The Embers, defined fine dining in our community.
Carrying on the Cattleman's legacy was enough to cement Oliver's place in Texarkana's history. But he is also well-remembered for elevating the dining experience in town when he opened Oliver Twist on Arkansas Boulevard in the 1970s. This was more than a steak house. For the first time Texarkana patrons could enjoy an upscale restaurant that could hold its own with establishments in Little Rock, Dallas and Shreveport.
Texarkana had never seen such a place before. And many still miss it today.
Just like they will miss Joe Neal Oliver, who died last week at age 79. His work ethic, hospitality, high standards and innovations made Texarkana a better, more flavorful place to call home.