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Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] August 25
Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 09:48:19 EDT

August 25
By Gail Valla

Before me stood a tall man, about sixty years old. He
had a perfect crew cut, even though it was not the current
style. He had bright blue eyes and wore a wide smile. He
extended his right hand to mine, simultaneously reaching
his left hand to my shoulder. It had been the warmest
greeting I'd received in over three years. Then he handed
me a business card that read "J. Richard Cook" on one side
and "Happy Birthday to me - Remember August 25" on the
other.
I had been startled by his humility because I already
knew who he was. The inmates referred to him as their
"guardian angel." He was the counselor to the Project
Workers at the Plummer Community Corrections Center, a
work-release facility.
Project Workers are inmates who have a prison sentence
but are permitted to serve their sentence at the Center
instead of a traditional prison facility. Project Workers
are the cooks, maintenance people, groundskeepers,
janitors, receptionists, switchboard operators and mail
sorters. Project Workers who have their GEDs or their high
school diplomas also serve as peer tutors to help others
earn theirs. The Plummer Center Project Workers are also
involved in community projects, from mowing lawns at
churches to clearing snow from city streets and sidewalks.
The workers live in a converted house called the
Mandatory Building. Their bunk beds are in a crowded
bedroom instead of a cell. The building has a kitchen,
dining room table, living room furniture and a TV. When
the workers' loved ones comes to visit, they may hug them
and eat the food prepared especially for them.
One worker shared, "As Dr. Cook and I sat and talked,
I realized that he knew more about me that I know about
myself. As we spoke about my crimes and my shortcomings,
truth was the only option. There was no room for excuses
or blaming others. He listened intently without judging or
pitying me."
Dr. Cook would ask a worker, "Did you use your
incarceration time wisely?" Then he'd briefly review their
various responsibilities and how they were responsible to
be on-call twenty-four hours a day. He'd say, "Your
integrity must be beyond reproach. Nothing less will be
tolerated."
After Dr. Cook met with a worker, he'd stand up, shake
their hand and say, "Doctor, nice talking with you." He
called people Doctor when he forgot their names. In spite
of that, he still left the workers feeling more positive
about themselves.
Dr. Cook escorted the workers to funerals, weddings,
hospitals to visit a family member or to a train station
when it was time to go home. I'd watch him take them
through the prison gates. He could have used a state-owned
car, but I knew he didn't, because the license plate read
"AUG 25."
Dr. Richard Cook not only gave of his car, but he gave
of himself. He was always there to guide the workers. He
was a mentor, friend and critic - even if it hurt. He was
a man with a colorful sense of humor. He had a basement
full of treasures he stored for the inmates until their
release and a phone bill lined with collect calls.
What did this man expect in return? Birthday cards,
no matter whether they were from a store, homemade or from
a computer. It didn't matter, but he only wanted one
signature per card. He was even known to buy a box of
cards and hand them out. He received cards from inmates
released years before. Many had moved to other states and
new successful lives. Dick Cook loved his birthday and
everyone knew it.
On October 15, 1997, the Earth stood still. Our most
beloved Dr. J. Richard Cook passed away in the place he
loved - the Plummer Center's Mandatory Building -
surrounded by those he loved and those who loved him.
The Mandatory Building was renamed. The Cook Building
and a tree now stand there in his honor. People still send
birthday cards every year to our facility on August 25,
even though they know Dr. Cook is no longer physically
here. His spirit is alive and well. Thank you, Dr. Cook,
and happy birthday.




.·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·.
*: * Richiele * *
*·. .·*
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³´`*:»§«:*´`³

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