Sober 54 years since 2/2/1957, Tom went from inmate to warden and not just any inmate but one who killed two pedestrians in a blackout and to this day remembers nothing of the incident.
He was in a maximum security prison at the time of his first meeting. He never felt more out of place in his life than he did at the first meeting. Not only was he young but he felt guilty.
He was the youngest guy in the room at age 24 and at many rooms after that.
When he got out of prison, he got involved in AA and got asked to carry the message back in the prison. He thought they were crazy but went back anyway. Then he got employed there as a counselor. He got training in corrections to help him not be the dumbest member of the team.
Then to his amazement they created a new form of prison and asked him to be its first warden.
He spent over 35 years in corrections at all levels.
Truly incredible.
Tom did a Workshop earlier that day at the same event:
Tom I on Emotional Sobriety at Marietta, GA 2011
NOTE: I have spent some one-on-one time with Tom and am grateful for his sage sharing. Last I heard his health was failing and he was no longer able to speak at these events.