Prison Counselor for Youth
A lifelong ‘people person,’ he championed second chances, personal redemption, commitment, and hard work.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
John R. Webb (JW) was born and raised in New Jersey.
CHILDHOOD
In his youth, JW played football, track, and basketball, earning state championship recognition for his speed as a quarter miler.
EDUCATION – AN EARLY LEADER
JW served as a student adviser to administrators while in middle school. He was elected Co-President of his high school’s student council.
Following high school graduation, JW earned a Bachelor’s degree at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), where he focused his academic courses on social studies and English. He served as president of the school’s track club, secretary of the Lettermen’s Club, and member of the Social Studies Exchange.
JW was a lifelong history student, particularly of the Civil War and was known to educate even the most knowledgeable guides at Gettysburg National Military Park. (Editor’s note – Picture his wife and children rolling their eyes while he corrected any misinformation from a licensed, senior, Battlefield Park guide.)
FIRST ADULT JOB IS NEVER A BINDING CAREER COMMITMENT
JW’s first career path was in education, as a public high school history teacher for six years.
While he enjoyed providing historical facts and perspective to high school students, JW once visited a former student, now confined within in a state prison, noting the contrast in upbringing and opportunities between his mostly well-behaved high school students and the young men whose criminal misconduct had led them down a different path. Perhaps, thought JW to himself, he could assist in the rehabilitation of the young prisoners. So, JW determined that he would answer to a ‘higher calling’ by continuing in education but in a different role: counseling young men who were incarcerated at a nearby, minimum-security prison facility in New Jersey.
MANY ROLES HELPING PRISONERS
After initially volunteering to work with prisoners on a part-time basis, JW’s combination of educational background, common sense judgment and caring attitude led prison administrators to offer JW full-time employment, starting as a counselor. His responsibilities eventually expanded to include monitoring and mentoring hundreds of incarcerated men as they made their way through the facility’s rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
JW served as an adjudicator at inmate disciplinary hearings, helped men adjust to institutional living and addressed their social, economic, and emotional problems.
CAREER SATISFACTION
It was not unusual for former prison inmates to remain in contact with JW after he had helped them through their rehabilitation and reintegration into civil society.
When he retired from his work within the state prison system, JW was presented with a plaque and words of praise by administrators of the last prison where he served, noting his decades of caring for all the young men entrusted to his care.
One child noted, “(My dad) was an amazing father. He was witty and so kind.”
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This career story is based on several sources including an obituary written by Gary L. Miles, published by The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper on October 11, 2023.
