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AJA Past Presidents “The role of jail administrator was thrust on me in 1991.
Realizing that I was in way over my head, I elected to attend
1981–1982 John Newhart (Chairman of the Board)
two professional conferences that spring. The first one was
1981–1983 Ray Coleman
sponsored by the American Correctional Association, while
1983–1984 Norman Cox
the second one was sponsored by AJA. It was obvious to me
1984–1985 Larry Ard
that ACA was geared more to prisons than jails. On the other
1985–1986 James Gondles
hand, the AJA conference was the exact opposite. I was over-
1986–1987 Thomas R. Barry
whelmed by the energy I felt each day there. Not only was the
1987–1988 Samuel F. Saxton
agenda full of current and relevant topics, but the presenta-
1988–1989 Paul E. Bailey
tions made at the workshops and the subsequent discussions
1989–1990 James W. Painter
were full of innovation.
1990–1991 Norma Phillips Lammers
I remained the jail administrator of the Pitkin County Jail for
1991–1992 David M. Parrish, CJM
the next 26 years. During that time, I attended every annual
1992–1993 Richard G. Kiekbusch, PhD
AJA training conference. I would tell folks who asked that
1993–1994 Merry Gay McMackin
everything I learned about being a jail practitioner (with the
1994–1995 Robert “Bud” Kerr
exception of the lessons we all learn the hard way) I learned
1995–1996 Thomas N. Faust
from AJA. Some years, I would be at a professionally low
1996–1997 Sally Chandler Halford
ebb around conference time only to have my excitement and
1997–1998 Thomas B. Slyter, Jr.
energy for my job rekindled by the ideas and interactions at
1998–1999 Bryan L. Hill
conference. At some point along my way, realizing that there
1999–2000 Mark Fitzgibbons
was way more visionary information being passed on at these
2000–2001 Gerry Billy
conferences than one person could absorb, I started bringing
2001–2002 Walter R. Smith
what line staff our jail schedule could afford to let attend.”
2002–2003 Timothy P. Ryan, MS
“Over the years, my AJA mentors became my colleagues
2003–2004 Peter E. Perroncello, CJM, CCT
and friends. Jim Hart became AJA President the year Peter
2004–2005 Anthony Callisto, Jr.
Perroncello convinced me to run for a seat on the Board of
2005–2006 Robert W. Patterson, III
Directors. While I didn’t win the election that year, President
2006–2007 Joseph W. Oxley
Hart appointed me to fill a vacancy on the board. I was sub-
2007–2008 James M. Hart, CJM
sequently elected to the AJA board three more times. Those
2008–2009 Jon D. Hess
years on the board and my AJA-inspired professional career
2009–2010 Robert Lucas
were unimaginable for a guy from such a small jurisdiction as
2010–2011 Bobbi Luna
mine. I have never felt surrounded by a more dedicated group
2011–2012 Frank Hecht
of intellects in my life. Becoming a member of the AJA family
2012–2013 Kim Spadaro, MS
was a lifetime achievement for me.”
2013–2014 Estéban Gonzalez, CJM, CCT
2014–2015 Jamie Lynn Clayton “It has been my great honor to have been associated with AJA.
2015–2016 Mitch Lucas I have met any number of persons who I have nothing but
2016–2017 Wayne Dicky, CJM respect and admiration for, many of whom I count as friends.”
2017–2018 John W. Johnson, Sr., MBA, CJM
DON BIRD
2018–2019 Ronaldo D. Myers, MA, CJM
Retired Jail Administrator
2019–2020 Elias Diggins, MPA, CJM Pitkin County, Colorado
2020–2021 Marsha P. Travis, CJM

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