Brief notes recalling the named individual

Offutt Tasman McWilliams - "Uncle Taz" to his relatives, "Reverend McWilliams" in his community. "Mac" to Juvie staff. Allways alert and involved in what was going on around him, always knew what was called for in every situation. One of the first bits of orientation offered to new workers: "Don't get between Mac and the chow cart!" As far as I know, he never made good on his promise (or was it a threat?) to write a book about Life and Work at Juvenile Hall. According to an unofficial count, he reduced his weight by a ton or so, ten pounds at a time, but always gained it back (and then some). Based on my marriage and history, he declared me an "Associate Member".

Darrell Hill - Darrell and I started work on the same day in 1963. We had very similar careers, declining promotion to Supervisor on numerous occasions over the span of thirty-five years or so. I don't know what his reasons were, but mine were consistently the same: Sloth. Fear.

Tony Esquivel - When Tony came to work at the South Bay Adult office, he told everyone that I was "El Mero Chingón". I still have no idea what that means, nor why Tony thought spreading it was appropriate. (OK, I just looked it up; Now I'm really mystified)

Rudy Celaya - A low-level, competent laborer in the JH Maintenance department, Rudy became the Maint Spvsr at downtown Jail, and eventually "owned" the new South Bay Courthouse in Chula Vista.

Edward "Pete" Judy - Pete Judy says: "High School Student worker custodian Downtown Court House 1970-72. Work with John Nimsgern. Recent return veteran from Vietnam who was working at downtown courthouse while getting his degree on GI bill. John cleaned the downtown Probation offices in the old Courthouse. When I graduated high school in 1972 I went on to work as a custodian at juvenile hall while I attended San Diego State. I owe a lot to John. As a 16-17 year old student he opened the door to what would be my career. I went on to work at juvenile hall as a probation assistant, dpo, sr po and supervisor. John too did at least one tour at juvenile hall."

John Nimsgern - RIP agent Orange causality (per Pete Judy)

Judith Mullen - See also Judy Giebelman, Judy Sinderholm, Judy Bailey. Coming up on two hundred on my list of people I remember from J H, I can count no more than a couple dozen who, in one way or another, became what I'd call friends. Judy is among the first who come to mind. We had many interests in common, enjoyed many of the same aspects of daily life and work, and play, and hung out together quite a bit. She was a member of the Bailey family (Page 81 et seq.) who pioneered and settled the Palomar Mountain area, fascinating history worth looking up. She showed me her grandfather's cabin on the Mountain, where it was a central part of a fabulous resort, early-mid 20th century.

William Morgan Anderson - My friend William Morgan Anderson was a motorcycle racer and a track sprinter. He told me the first sanctioned race at Riverside International Raceway was the bikes. His athletic specialty gave him an advantage in the "bump start" common in the day, and he led the first lap of the first official race at RIR. He took a kind of satirical pride in that, saying he wasn't as fast as the many who passed him in later laps, but they didn't share his first-lap distinction. I miss him every day. He left the Hall to eventual retirement from Federal Probation You will never know a person with a better grasp of how we should live our lives, and who more thoroughly embodied the practice of those principles. Generous, considerate, accepting and forgiving, he was an example and inspiration to all whose lives he touched. A great loss to family, friends, and to the world. Adiós amigo. Que te duermas en paz.

Ken "Butch" Engelbrecht - A perfectionist for himself and others, Butch could make your shift, and his, and your existences, either delightful or a disappointment. He's an adventurous thinker and actor and usually confident that he's right. He and Al Fulton and another JH coworker whom I don't recall at the moment, took over operation of a club the name of which I'm not recalling right now—you know the one along Hwy 8 with the giant tall doll on its roof—where you could get a beer and a good burger. Their proprietorship didn't last long, but was fun for a while. Butch and I were parking-lot slalom racers and road-racing workers/officials. He made me drive his 289 Cobra in a demonstration slalom run at Naval Air Station El Centro in conjunction with their open house and air show. He gave the Blue Angels pilots some thrilling rides and urged me to go faster when I was at the wheel. He still has the Cobra, now a million-dollar car.

Cliff McReynolds - Short-term employee as a Group Counselor. Capable and dependable, and owner of a many-branched sense of humor. Decent pool player who on one occasion seemed to catch the current that was eventually responsible for an opponent "running the table" and leaving him without a single shot. When Cliff sensed that might happen, he began slamming doors, lifting and dropping the end of Unit 100 chow tables, telling bad jokes; anything to distract the other player. That was me, in a once-in-a-lifetime experience in more ways than one.

Phil Gorman - Latest SDCERA newsletter lists the demise of a "Phillip Gorman", no agency noted. This must be the Phil I knew at Juvenile Hall. He was a shift leader when I signed on there, and helped me over quite a few rough spots. Sarcasm was a tool he utilized with staff as well as the kids, and you could anticipate a couple of beats between what he said and what eventually seemed an appropriate response. My JH career would have been quite different without his presence. In what was at that time (mid-1960s) a necessarily and delightfully athletic environment, Phil was a rarity: his SDSC degree was in Phys Ed. You couldn't avoid learning a lot by listening to and watching him at work. He was a recreational fisherman. My interest in that hobby had waned, so I gave him all my reels and poles and everything. Last time I remember seeing him was in the late-middle 1970s. I was out for my morning four-mile jog when he pulled up beside me and we spent the next more-than-four-mile episode catching up on what had come to pass since I left the Hall for the Chula Vista Community Day Center subsidy unit. Phil Gorman. Very high up on the list of Good Guys.

Mike Blanco - After 25 years , March, 1979 to March 2004 I only subbed in JH and GRF. Started at Work Projects for 3 years then got transferred to JRF in 1982. What a culture shock back then! Covered at a couple of Adult Camps then finished up at JPC Transportation. Daily work in and out of Juvenile Hall and all of our local Juvenile Placements and beyond. Always a learning experience and so many good people with SD Probation. Grateful!.

Maurice ‘Mo’ Jackson..began my career (2/1978) at the ‘Hall’ ( 6 yrs total ), finished at El Cajon adult investigation office (2005).. wow, what a career and ‘ride’

Christopher J. Thomas - Spent 17 years at JH, as a ADPO I to supervisor. Lots of great people!

Joseph F Cristarella - Great list, I remember working with many of them, I started in July 1988, went to JRF in October 1989, came back in 10/1990 and worked there until making DPO in August 1993. Loved my time and the great people I worked with.

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