tuesdny
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Tuesday, October 19,1976
9
Former inmate says proper self image will help prisoners to get out and:
Stay out U B photo by Dick Cockle
Ex-convict Gordon Graham tells inmates to change their thinking BY DICK COCKLE Of the Union-Bulletin
Gordon Graham looks out on his audience of 75 convicts at the Washington State Penitentiary and tells them that wrong thinking landed them there. "There's no way you can rip a safe open if you don't think about it. There's no way you can score without thinking about it. The way you think is a habit. You can change habits," he says. Ordinarily, the convicts probably would dismiss "square John" advice like that with a collective shrug. But they sit attentively as Graham paces before them in a sports jacket and open-at-the-throat shirt, discussing topics like self-awareness, image psychology and integrity. The reason? Five years ago, Graham, 43, was one of them — an inmate doing time on a burglary conviction. He now operates Campion Towers work-release center in Seattle on a contract with the state. Graham also is vice president and marketing director for Pacific In-
stitute, a six-year-old Seattle firm that has motivational techniques as its stock in trade. Pacific Institute sells motivation, either as "live" seminars given by Graham and other teachers, or as videotape programs. Last month, Washington's division of adult corrections bought five videotape "kits" at a cost of $15,000 to enable prison officials to give do-it-yourself seminars. Graham, who claims to earn $18,000 to $24,000 a year, this month has seminars scheduled before groups of federal investigators in Seattle and Albuquerque, N.M.; city officials in Oxnard, Calif., and staff members and inmates at the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan. He also plans a program for the Department of Labor in Washington D.C. Graham spent 15 years in prison "for a lot of different things; burglary, parole violation," hesays. His life in those days was characterized by violence. "I used to have a habit of acting without thinking. For 10 years, I walked around with a cast on my left hand," he tells the inmates.
"I broke it 15 times. You know why? Every time somebody got in my face, I'd take a whack at him with a left hook. I broke it so many times the doctors stopped putting it in a cast. They just wrapped it in an Ace bandage." Graham tells his audience he finally vowed to make some changes in his life. "You hit 'em with a right?'" suggests a prisoner, and Graham and the others laugh. But the ex-convict quickly grows serious. He says he used Pacific Institute's techniques to create a new self image. And he reinforces it daily by listening to a tape recording of his own voice telling him he is a dynamic speaker and has the power to be successful. "I see myself as an honest person. I don't steal now-because I think it's wrong. I think it infringes on other people. That's the picture I see of myself. Every time I get out of line with the picture I see of myself, I get feedback: That's not me,'' he says. According to A.J. Murphy, the
prison's information officer and Graham's former parole officer, it has worked. "He was a real heavy, as tough as they come. He was a boxer, a good boxer. And he was a con boss when the cons ran the place years ago. "Then he got into self image, and you'd never believe it was the same guy. The guys have a lot of respect for him inside. He's really able to put across his points; the guys trust him because he was here." That respect for Graham has carried over to state corrections officials in Olympia and had some part in the decision to purchase Pacific Institute's videotape programs.
Cummins, associate warden of the prison. "A lot of people go through their lives feeling they can't do this or that. It's one of those things to make people feel better about themselves." Cummins says the five hours of tapes will be given to prison administrators and their wives on their own time on weekends. "We feel it's something that can be a great help to our staff. Working in an institution like this is a difficult job, and keeping your motivation up isn't always the easiest thing in the world." "We also believe in it for the residents (inmates). I think it helps the residents set goals for some kinds of long-range plans." Too often, inmates don't plan further than the other side of the institution's front door, according to Cummins.
"It's very gratifying to run into someone like Gordy," says John Shaugnessy, business manager for adult corrections in Olympia. "He has no credibility problem with those of us in corrections." "When they get out, they don't Shaugnessy says the videotapes have been distributed to the state's know what to do. This program sets major correctional institutions, in- them out further in their lives. One of the long-range goals is when you get cluding the penitentiary. "It's really geared to help people out, stay out." "It tries to make people better perachieve their potential," says James
She should 'bare all' before tying knot BY ABIGAIL VAN BUREN
DEAR ABBY: I have been going with a nice, refined woman my age (45) and we planned to be married next month. But an incident occurred last week in the shop where she works that makes me wonder if I should go through with my marriage plans. Another woman employe and my friend got into an argument when the other woman accused my friend of stealing one of her best customers. The name-calling graduated into hair-pulling, and my friend was getting the best of this other woman when the other woman yanked her dress off her. Well, my lady friend just wouldn't quit. Minus her dress she tore into the other woman, and before the battle was over, both women stripped each other and were fighting naked when
dear abby the boss called the police. My question: Should I marry this woman who fought naked in front of both men and women when she could have quit when just her dress had been torn off? —WONDERING IN N.Y. DEAR WONDERING: Among other things, your lady friend exhibited a violent temper. I'd have to know more about her before answering your question, but if you place a high premium on modesty, don't rush into anything. DEAR ABBY: Do you think it's all
Author fears movie may beget violence SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — The author of "Death Wish" fears that when CBS airs the movie version it will trigger a rash of copycats imitating the "hero" — a man who kills those he thinks are law-breakers. So Brian Garfield has been waging a so far unsuccessful campaign to convince the giant network that showing tiie violence-drenched film on a Friday night in prime time is a mistake that could result in tragedy. "If they don't show it, it might keep a couple of people alive," the novelist said in an interview. "If you run it for an audience of 100 million, you have to accept the responsibility for kooks." "My problem with the film is that I think it's dangerous," said Garfield, who was attending a writer's workshop here. "It's already led to a couple of people emulating the events."
CBS, which says the movie meets its programs' standards, says it'll be broadcast in November but no date has been set yet Garfield's book deals with a man, portrayed by Charles Branson in the film, who takes the law into his own hands after his wife is murdered and his daughter driven insane during a vicious rape by three hoodlums. The character in the book shows clear evidence of a mental disorder as the book progresses and near the end is shooting burglars and car strippers. "He's obviously a nut," Garfield said. But in the movie, says Garfield, who had no part in the production, the man is made oat to be a "cowboy hero" who never shoots first "It makes it much more appealing," he said.
For *\ Centerpiece. Party Prices Or Give One To Someone Special *P^=io^r
RUSSELLSCANDY© KWSPAPLRl
them to the basement while I'm putting up pickles. He's even invited them to join me in the kitchen while I'm mopping up the floor! Some of the people he's invited in I hardly know, such as the Avon lady. I have asked him to please ask the caller to be seated, then come get me so I can go to THEM, but he never does. He continues to send them to me, which embarrasses me no end. He is a perfect gentleman otherwise, but now that he's retired and home all day, this habit of his is getting me nervous. We've been married 43 years, and this morning he sent a magazine salesman into my bedroom while I was dressing! Please help me.—FURIOUS DEAR FURIOUS: You've told your husband what I would havetoldhim. Now it's two to one.
When Graham was first exposed to the training, "It was like an unfolding of a lot of information I had not been aware of," he says. "Or, if I had been aware of it, I had blocked it out. I learned I was accountable for what had happened in my life. And if that was true, I was accountable to change my life." That is a point he tries to instill in convicts — and anyone else who attends the seminars, he says. "You are accountable. You have to develop some discipline. And you do that first by disciplining the mind."
WEDNESDAY SPECIAL!
DAILY TV HIGHLIGHTS!
HARDSHELL
- '"
TACOS 2009 W o l l o W a l l a A v e
VOYE FOR Lee Mantz, Jr
Manufacturers Close-Out Sale! 1976 model
dishwashers
We bought current model KitchenAid dishwashers-the brand dishwasher owners say is the best-at special close-out prices. All new and in factory cartons. We're passing the savings on to you!
Big Savings! Great Values!
PUMPKIN UGLliS Halloween candies and much more Fresh and delicious at... fresh at
right for a man who is married and has four children to go out with other women as long as it doesn't interfere with his home life? I can't receive mail at my place because nothing around here is private, but I need an answer fast. -BURLINGAME DEAR BURLINGAiME: It's NOT all right. Besides, regardless of what you may think, it HAS TO interfere with his home life. DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are in disagreement over something and want you to settle it. When someone comes to our door asking for me, my husband will invite him (or her) in, and he sends them to whichever room of the house I happen to be in at the moment He's sent people to my bedroom when I'm lying down! He has directed
sonally, better family people, more efficient on the job, better spiritual people. It just covers the whole gamut of a man's or a woman's life," he says. Graham admits that many persons are successful in their lives and stay out of prisons without using an organized system of motivational techniques. But many still don't achieve their full potential, he says. "Most people who are effective don't have the ability to transfer what makes them effective to other people," he adds.
DON JOHNSON PLUMBING & HEATING
5253554
tit N. Wh
ft been a good neighbor... ... hoi be i good commissioner." Democratic Candidate for
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 2
WaHa WaHa County
fold Politico) AoV*rti»*m*nt iWSPAPKRl