Dedication

This work is dedicated to Boyd Marsing and Jerry Nielsen, two remarkable teachers at Nevada State Prison (NSP) in 1968 who took me under their wing and made today's message possible. Their dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the incarcerated left an indelible mark on the lives they touched. I owe my success beyond NSP to them.

Boyd, your wisdom and influence continue to guide me. Though I hesitate to find out where life has taken you, may God bless you wherever you are! 

Jerry was my best neurotypical friend. I wept reading his obituary. Jerry, his son Devan, and I regularly played golf in Reno and Tahoe. He was the best man at my wedding.  Jerry had been my English teacher at the Nevada State Prison. He singled me out when, in his English assignment I used the word "contemporary."  We locked together from that moment on. Jerry, you were so special. You were a good friend and a great person.

https://www.nevadaappeal.com/obituaries/2022/jun/08/gerald-nielson/

I am profoundly and directly grateful to Hale Bennett of the Nevada DMV in 1969, whose belief in potential over past mistakes and pioneering spirit opened new paths for many. Your faith in second chances, a beacon of hope, transformed lives. May you rest in peace.

To Gordon Harding of Central Data Processing, Department of General Services in 1969, whose unwavering support and trust gave me a chance when few would. You believed in redemption, and your compassion forged a bond beyond professional ties. You saw in me the potential to overwhelm my past, and the tears you shed for me at the Carson City jail in 1978 bore witness to your commitment. Dear sweet Gordon, you stood by me until the end.  May you rest in peace.

And to Mike O’Callaghan, the 23rd Governor of Nevada, whose enlightened leadership between 1971 and 1979 significantly shaped the state. His tenure made him a real 5-star Governor. May you rest in peace, Sir, Governor Mike O'Callaghan.

Each of these individuals showed that with faith, understanding, and opportunity, every person has the potential for greatness. Their actions profoundly impacted my life and continue to inspire and guide our mission, their influence enduring. 

May this work serve as a reminder that what was once misunderstood can now be a path to greater understanding and change.   

James R. Wadsworth, Founder and Project Director, AI in Corrections, LLC