Todd Holder: 'What I've learned from DOC'
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March 31, 2017
A few years ago, I was asked by whom I thought was a good friend of mine (Rep. Jeff Hickman) about serving on this board, knowing nothing about corrections, except being in Alva.
I knew we had a facility of which I was extremely proud, because we felt like we were making an enormous difference in people's lives.
I had no idea the change that could happen to people. I had no idea about any other facility but this one, right? So I thought they were all like this one. I thought all communities were like this one, right? I was born and raised here and never left this lovely community. I thought, “Gosh, aren't all communities just like this one? Don't their communities get involved with their correction facilities just like this one?”
Let me tell you, folks, that's not the way it is.
Our community is one of the best places in the state of Oklahoma to have a facility like this. And I'm not sure if its not broader than that. But our community needs to be proud of what they have here and we are making a huge impact on kid's lives.
If you don't believe it, you need to show up at one these GED graduations where you see their family members come, and you see the tears that roll down the eyes of both the people who get their GED and the family members, because those are the accomplishments that those people thought these kids would never see.
This community has a huge impact. This facility has a huge impact.
The Department of Corrections is one of the most tight-knit, close-working organizations I've ever been associated with. It is a total privilege to serve on this board and see the things that are happening across the state of Oklahoma.
With declining budgets and increasing population, I say “How can we do this? And they say, “Todd, we just do it.”
I'm telling you, it is a great honor to be here and I appreciate getting to come here. It is a great privilege to serve on this board with these people I now call my friends. I'm certain I could call any of them and ask anything.
This community I need to applaud because you are one in a million. Thank you all.
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