Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

                                               NEWS RELEASE                                                              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2002

DRC Observes 30 Years as a Stand-Alone State Agency

(Columbus)- On July 12, 1972, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction was established as an independent state agency pursuant to House Bill 494 of the 109^th General Assembly.  Today, DRC invited back former Directors and other staff to commemorate its 30^th anniversary.  

The event, held at the Corrections Training Academy in Orient, began at 8:45 a.m. with a special recognition ceremony paying tribute to many of DRC’s pioneer leaders.  The afternoon session featured informational forums presented by key DRC staff on building community relationships, effective mentoring and leaving a legacy.

“This is a very exciting time to be a part of this agency,” explained DRC Director Reginald A. Wilkinson.   “This dynamic event presents us with the perfect opportunity to examine and revisit our past, which in turn, will help us to ensure continued success for our future.”

The DRC 30^th Anniversary Event also featured a video message form Governor Bob Taft and former Governor John Gilligan, the DRC chorus, a visual timeline, a documentary of the Department, and decades full of artifacts that portray the growth of corrections in Ohio.