A Gift form Mr. Alverson
By Vicki Ruth Adams Werneke

I have been an appellate attorney for over 14 years representing men sentenced to death. Over the years, I have visited with several clients on H-Unit at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, the underground unit where death row is housed, in McAlester. Recently, I spent the day at the prison visiting several men. I arrived at the prison about 10:45 a.m. after traveling over 2 ½ hours from Oklahoma City. I had asked to visit with six men, but only had time to visit with five before the unit manager told me I had to leave at 5 p.m. I had been in the bowels of the prison all day and was hungry and thirsty when I left. Attorneys are not allowed to bring anything to eat or drink into the visiting room while meeting with the inmates. After spending over six hours discussing the complicated nature of their various cases, I was exhausted and ready to go home.

While traveling north on the Indian Nations Turnpike, I reflected on the day and the conversations I had with the men, which varied with each person. I stopped at the fast food restaurant on the turnpike (the only one there and you can probably guess which one) to eat my “lunch” which was at 5:30 p.m. While enjoying my cheeseburger and French fries, I thought of one of the conversations at the prison. One of the men I had visited with earlier that day was Billy Alverson. I do not directly represent Mr. Alverson, but had permission from his attorneys to visit with him about another matter. Mr. Alverson was lamenting the fact that he was unable to be out in the world to help raise his four sons. He had been incarcerated for over 10 years already. He was especially concerned about his oldest son who was 17 years old and whom he had not spoken with in a while. Mr. Alverson expressed anguish that his son might make mistakes in his life. Mr. Alverson did not want his son to end up in prison like his father. He was not even sure if his oldest was in high school this year.

Many times when clients talk about their children, I think of my own children. My husband and I are the proud parents of a daughter, who is a sophomore in college and has become a fine young woman, and a son who is 16 years old and a junior in high school. Our son is close in age to Mr. Alverson’s oldest son. I thought how different our son’s life is compared to Mr. Alverson’s and his oldest son’s life. Our son is on the drumline in the marching band for his high school, which he enjoys immensely. He is making plans for college where he wants to study to become a veterinarian.

That night after spending all day at the prison, I was exhausted. I knew there was a football game that night and that the marching band would be performing at halftime. When I started the day, I had planned on just going straight home because I knew I would be spent. I told my son that I would not be there and he understood. I told other parents in the band boosters organization, of which my husband and I are the co-presidents, that I would not be there. I knew that my husband would be there to help with the band. But after hearing Mr. Alverson’s regret over the lost time with his sons, I knew that I could not miss even that one night of watching my child enjoying life and being part of something fantastic. I drove the three hours to the football game and arrived just before half time. My husband met me at the gate and greeted me with a soft drink. My son saw me in the stands as he stepped on the field and the performance by the band was wonderful.

Although I was still tired from the day, I was also energized and knew I was in the right place. The band director and some of the other parents were glad to see me, especially when they were not expecting me as I had told them I would be at the prison all day. Later that night when our son came home, he told me he was glad I was able to make it. I know that if I had decided to just go home, he would not have been upset with me or resentful. I was glad though that I had listened with my heart when Mr. Alverson was talking with me about his children and how he wished he would have made different choices with his life years ago.

The next day when I was back in the office, I talked with Mr. Alverson’s attorney, and told him how much I appreciated Mr. Alverson’s willingness to meet with me about the legal matter and how his feelings of love and caring for his children influenced me to change my plans for the evening. I knew I could not miss that one night in my child’s life and I thanked him for that gift. Inspiration can be found in the most amazing and unexpected places, even a dungeon like death row.

Ms. Werneke is an attorney with the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.