Announcements

2013 Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award

Astronaut and Weber resident receives Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award

TDCJ Executive Director Brad Livingston, Pastor Tommy Dahn, Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett and TBCJ Vice-Chair Tom Mechler (l-r). Tommy Dahn accepted the award on behalf of Barry Wilmore.

(Austin) - Barry Wilmore of Webster was presented the Governor’s 2013 Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award for Chaplaincy today in recognition of his dedication to helping offenders incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The award was presented by Texas Board of Criminal Justice Chairman Oliver Bell and Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Executive Director Brad Livingston during a ceremony held in Austin. Wilmore is one of 20 recipients from across Texas recognized for their efforts to help state offenders and those who are on parole or probation.

“Each of this year’s award recipients personify a selfless dedication to helping offenders succeed both while incarcerated, and once they’re released,” said Livingston.

An active duty Navy captain and a NASA astronaut, Wilmore has been a volunteer for TDCJ at the Terrell Unit in Rosharon since 2010. Wilmore successfully manages his program even when he is absent, serving as an astronaut training and for his work on the International Space Station.  During his training, he actively monitors the class and ensures the program continues to operate without interruption.  The men are impressed with his “military” leadership and “can do” attitude and that a man with his collective activities would consider facilitating a program at a prison unit.

Wilmore is an elder in the Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena and enjoys fitness training, woodworking and home projects in his spare time. He was the space shuttle pilot on Mission STS-129, and 11-day mission to the International Space Station in 2009.

Wilmore is one of thousands of concerned volunteers who donate many hours of their personal time every year with the goal of changing the lives of convicted offenders, and aiding and comforting their victims. Annually, approximately 18,000 volunteers make 163,000 visits to criminal justice facilities and work with offenders who are on supervision, donating over 526,000 hours of service.

Note to media: For more information, contact John Hurt, Director of Public Information, at 936-437-6052 or by email at john.hurt@tdcj.state.tx.us.