Hobbs GEO prison celebrates 20th anniversary

The Lea County Correctional Facility held a party on Wednesday to celebrate 20 years of operations and recognize longtime employees there from the start.

Prison employees, The GEO Group officials, community leaders and others packed into the prison late Wednesday morning for commemorative coins, lunch, speeches and cake during the anniversary celebration. In May 1998, the 350,000-square-foot private prison on West Millen Drive received inmates. Jumping ahead 20 years, LCCF or the GEO prison, remains in operation and provides more than 300 jobs in the Hobbs community.

J. David Donahue, senior vice president and president, U.S. Corrections and Detention and International Operations, said the 20-year anniversary is a reflection of the community’s dedication and the facility staff’s hard work.

“This industry is an old industry,” Donahue said. “Corrections has been around since the state was a territory, but the opportunity for individuals to serve their time of confinement in a facility that is grounded in principles of safety, security, professionalism. They pay their debt to society, they get out of prison and we hope they become contributing members of the community when they go home. So, 20 years of excellence at this facility and dedication has allowed people to change their lives and hopefully for a better way.”

Earlier in the day, GEO Group western region vice president Paul Laird thanked community partners that included law enforcement, EMS, hospital staff and universities, which Donahue also discussed. He said a partnership is instrumental because a community provides resources that are “inherent to their community” and later talked about giving back.

“We want to be a good neighbor and in order for us to be a good neighbor, we need to be part of the community. We’re a company that likes to give back,” Donahue said. “Annually, we give anywhere between $12,000 and $15,000 a year back to the community public education system. Scholarships for kids that want to go onto post-secondary education. So, we think it’s our obligation to be a good partner to the community itself and then obviously to the employees that come to the facility for contribution of daily activities.”

Donahue added the employees live, worship and spend money in the community.

“So, really, it’s an interwoven fabric of partnerships that make a correctional facility like this successful,” he said.

One of the celebration’s highlights came when LCCF Warden Dwight Sims announced the names of several 20-year employees and their month of hire in 1998. He also made presentations that included giving a portrait to GEO Group founder, CEO and board chairman George Zoley.

The employees who received 20-year service plaques are: records manager Carolyn Heavington, correctional officers Arthur Sosa, Melanie Cox, Robert Burris and Rosa Richardson, education registrar Melissa Leake, Sgt. James Pennell, compliance administrator Katherine Brodie and mental health provider Stacy Massengill-Munro. Those in attendance received the plaque, flowers and a watch from GEO officials and posed for photos.

“I hope I can make it another 20,” Cox later laughed.

Cox gathered with her co-workers at a table following the ceremony where two other corrections officers reflected on Wednesday’s recognition. Richardson said it “means a lot” and is an honor that the company recognized them, which echoed Sosa’s sentiments in appreciation.

Kelly Farrell can be reached at courts@hobbsnews.com.