By Ken Grayam
Books Worth Reading
If you wish a quick glimpse of the old and the new, the
way it was and the way it is now, I highly recommend two books: Racehoss:
Big Emma's Boy and Hadrian's Walls. Both allow you "to see the old"
Texas prison system and the present system although you will have to judge
if there's been any real improvement.
A former inmate of the Texas prison system, Albert Race
Sample, the author, spent seventeen years as a guest of the Texas prison
system. Hell for Sample was the Retrieve Unit, a branch of the Texas state
prison system reserved for the most incorrigible prisoners. A cotton plantation
where men slaved from dawn to dusk under the cruel leadership of "Boss
Bond." It cracked the spirits of the weak and hardened the souls of
the strong.
For "Racehoss," as Sample was called, the Retrieve
was a place to witness unbearable brutality -- which re recounts in awesome
detail in the pages of this most stunning book. It is the classic story
of the son of a trouble mother, of a young man gone bad, and his first
tentative, then tremendous steps toward reclaiming his own destiny.
His ability to understand the forces that drove him to
prison, and his devotion to helping others also see the light of change,
earned Sample his release in 1972 and a full pardon in 1976. His story
is gripping, powerful and utterly real-life testament to the strength of
the human spirit.
The second reading concerns Hadrian Coleman, the protagonist
of Robert Draper's first novel. Hadrian is that rare criminal who really
is innocent. Not of murder, because he's killed twice in self-defense,
but of the further transgression of succumbing to callousness. For, despite
the careful depiction of life in Shephardsville, a mythical East Texas
town whose major economy is the state prison, the true arrow of the novel
is the human heart.
Hadrian's lifelong friend is Sonny Hope, the conniving
prison director who could prove Hadrian's innocence but chooses not to
as a result of his own weakness. Thus, while Hadrian is sentenced to years
behind bars, alone with the realization that he has sacrificed himself
for Sonny's happiness, his friend eventually rises to prison director.
When after 15 years, Hadrian kills again and then escapes confinement,
he and Sonny start a new sort of cat and mouse game: Sonny pardons him,
Hadrian returns to Shephardsville and a chilling game of who-owes-what-to-
whom ensues.
Draper masterfully unveils the petty politics and small
town intrigue of a town dominated by correctional facilities. In the end
though it's Hardian's story, as he struggles to see if he's more than what
Sonny has created and more than he himself thought.
Names such as Castlebury, Estelle and others will jump
from the pages of this supposedly fictional novel, and Shephardsville is
of course Huntsville.
Seven Hills Running Club
On Oct. 8, 2000, the Huntsville Seven Hills Running Club
will celebrate 15 years of almost continuous existence. The club had a
strong TDCJ presence then and still does today. Its original president
was Ken Johnson, a TDCJ employment director and Mr. Johnson is again the
president today. About 25 of the approximate 120 members are TDCJ people
who have long been involved with the club.
The club was formed at an organizational meeting in the
First National Bank building in Huntsville in September 1985. The name,
Seven Hills Running Club, was chosen several weeks later from a list of
about 50 possible names.
It was decided from the start that the Seven Hills Running
Club would be a club for all runners and potential runners. The club promotes
running as a means of achieving and maintaining physical fitness and a
better life. Members do not have to be fast runners or marathoners nor
are they expected to participate in all the club's activities.
Besides meetings, dinners, guest speakers, picnics and
monthly club runs, the Seven Hills Running Club initiated and managed several
races for the public. The races included the Great Escape 10K, the Raven
Run (5 miles) and the Texas 10K Run. These races not only brought a lot
of visitors to Huntsville and promoted running in the city, the profits
from these races were used to purchase race equipment and operate the club.
Today the club manages and runs the Charity Mile, a one-mile
run/walk down the Christmas parade route just ahead of the big Christmas
Parade in Huntsville. The club also hosts and runs, in conjunction with
the Huntsville Memorial Hospital, the Huntsville Quarter and Half Marathon,
which is held the first weekend in October every year.
The Seven Hills Running Club has a monthly run the last
Saturday of each month. Runners and walkers may use this run for condition,
for timing (progress) or as a confidence builder. The run/walks are timed
and there are refreshments at the conclusion. Joining fees are $7 a year,
$10 for families of two or more, and $1 for the monthly run.
Employee of the Month
Dr. Richard Watkins, senior warden of the Holliday Transfer
Facility, has proudly announced the selection of Lynann Farris as the Employee
of the Month. Lynann serves as program coordinator for those assigned on
this unit but is also the assistant to the regional manager for SAPT. She
communicates with different department heads and security to carry out
the mission of the unit/programs.
Lynann is described by her supervisor, Ms. Barbara Williams,
as energetic, reliable and goes above the call of duty to get her job done.
Additionally, she provides coverage for other units where staff is not
available and fields questions pertaining to treatment. She is dependable,
efficient, handles responsibilities well and always acts in a pleasant
and professional manner.
Memorial
On Friday, Aug. 6, Shaquis La'Tonia Williams, 16-year-old
daughter of Holliday Correctional Officer Wilmer Williams, perished in
a head-on collision with a second car. Also killed was Shaquis's 16-year-old
friend, LaTarsha Glaze and her mother Patricia Glaze.
We, the staff of the Holliday Unit, were deeply saddened
by the terrible loss of these truly wonderful people. Many of us have known
Wilmer since the conception of this unit 5 1/2 years ago and we watched
the growth and maturity of her young daughter from grade school to junior
high and then high school. We share your sadness and sorrow, Wilmer.
Did You Know...
Back in its early days, Huntsville was known as the "Rome
of Texas" because, like Rome, Italy, it was built on seven distinct
hills. These are as follows:
1. Capital Hill, 17th St. and University Ave. This was
a finalist on the list of proposed sites for the state capital. Obviously,
Austin won.
2. Cotton Gin Hill, 7th St. and University Ave. This was
the site of the old cotton gin. 3. Smith Hill, Smith Hill Rd. and Roosevelt
St.
4. Depot Hill, 15th St. and University, the site of an
old train depot.
5. Peckerwood Hill, Sycamore St. and Bearcat Blvd. This
is the site of the TDCJ inmate cemetery.
6. Gospel Hill, Gospel Rd.
7. Knowledge Hill, 21st St. and Ave. D. When SHSU was
known as Sam Houston Teachers College, most of the professors lived in
this area.
