Every so often, it is necessary to take a pause from the harried journey of life and reflect on the people who've made the course a little easier to walk. There are special souls around that do more than anyone asks, who give of themselves fully, sometimes to the death. It is these people who deserve a fond, somber remembrance because who they were, what they did, and why they cared can become even more important through hindsight.

For the past four years, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has taken a unified pause across the state to honor their fallen officers. Though the list grows longer every year, the desire to esteem their sacrifice grows stronger just as well.

Marking the last two days of National Correctional Officers Week, on May 9, 2003 at 9 a.m., the statewide service began.

At the Buster Cole State Jail in Bonham, the memorial service was dedicated to not only all officers lost in the line of duty, but also the one who passed from other causes while employed by TDCJ. Warden Karl also asked that the seven astronauts lost in the Columbia be remembered.

“We're here to celebrate that we got to know them, be influenced by them and share in their lives, even if just a little bit,” said Major Winkler during the ceremony.

One candle was lit to represent the fond memories of those who lost their light with honor.

Roll Call

Stanley A. Wiley
Industrial Specialist III
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
End of Watch: January 29, 2003

Rodney C. Welch
Corrections Officer
Missouri Department of Corrections
End of Watch: January 14, 2002

James Gover Henderson, Jr
Correctional Officer
Georgia Department of Corrections
End of Watch: June 3, 2002

Eric Jason Autobee
Correctional Sergeant
Colorado Department of Corrections
End of Watch: October 1, 2002

David Hiram Bowser, Jr
Corrections Officer
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
End of Watch: November 13, 2002

James C. Hesterberg
Correctional Officer
Alaska Department of Corrections
End of Watch: November 19, 2003

Chaplain Ayers sang 'Amazing Grace.'

TDCJ Line of Duty Deaths

Stanley Wiley – 01/29/03
Daniel Nagle – 12/17/99
Wilmot A. Burnett – 12/16/99
Fransisco Garza – 05/31/99
Bill Hemstedt, Sr. - 08/07/98
James Dimanoff – 10/14/97
Arthur B Haynes, Jr. - 11/14/96
Timothy J. Parsley, Sr. - 10/01/96
Stephen Stewart – 01/07/94
Sidney Lyons – 11/19/89
Joe F. Gurney – 08/12/88
Minnie R. Houston – 06/03/85
Robert A. Hunt – 06/06/84
Dalton B. Cawthray – 01/05/84
Wallace M. Pack – 04/04/81
Billy M. Moore – 04/04/81
Cephus D. Burson – 10/01/80
John B. Brown – 07/18/77
Elizabeth Y. Beseda – 08/03/74
Julia Standley – 08/03/74
Charles Jesse Baker – 07/21/59
Major Joe Crowson – 01/27/34
Jim Sneed – 07/25/31
Will Roder – 1926

Ms. Renfro, Officer Palmer and Warden Karl gave a special tribute, followed by a moment of silence.

Officers lost at Buster Cole State Jail

Officer John Ray
Captain Jerry Butch Williams – by the hand of God

The flages flew half staff at Buster Cole and every other unit across Texas.