Former prison warden to speak at Milam County Museum

At first glance, the cities of Cameron and Huntsville seem to have very little in common. 

Here, we are all familiar with the small town charm and small population (5,352) of Cameron. But what could the county seat of Milam County have in common with the larger populated city of Huntsville, (46,288) the county seat of Walker County? 

Actually, we both have museums dedicated to law enforcement in the early days of Texas. The Milam County Historical Museum board is preserving area history in the old 1895 county jail. And undoubtedly, Huntsville has a significant history in law enforcement. It has also had a huge role in the Texas Prison System since 1849.

This slight similarity prompted the MCHM to host guest speaker, David Stacks. Currently serving as the Director of the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville, Stacks will be the keynote speaker at an event on May 9. 

This event will begin at 6 p.m. in our local museum, located at 112 West First Street in downtown Cameron. Admission is free, but donations would be greatly appreciated. Light refreshments will be served and everyone is encouraged to spend the evening at this historic presentation. 

Milam County Jail Museum tour guide and museum executive board member, Susan Larson, has invited David Stacks to our community. Mrs. Larson says, “visitors should find the event informative and enjoyable.” She also added, “we are inviting everyone to the museum for an evening of great stories related to the history of the Texas Prison System from our guest speaker, David Stacks.” 

David Stacks recently became the prison museum director after he served on the Texas Prison Museum Board of Directors for 15 years. A native of Teague, Stacks was born and raised in Freestone County, Texas. He began his employment with the Texas Department of Corrections in 1979. His first assignment was at the Diagnostic Unit, now named the Jay Byrd Unit. Stacks elevated through the ranks of Lieutenant; Captain; Major; Assistant Warden; Warden; and Director of Training. While serving in the position of Deputy Director of Management Operations, Stacks retired after working thirty years for the TDCJ in the Correctional Institutions Division. Stacks later worked for Management Training Corporation as the warden of a facility in conjunction with the United States Marshal’s Office. 

While visiting Milam County, Stacks may notice some similarities in his well-known prison museum and our iconic old jail museum. 

For example, there are certainly artifacts that are similar in both museums. Handcuffs, badges, shackles, guns and holsters just to name a few are displayed at each museum. But, what about the history of capital punishment? 

In the old Milam County Jail Museum, this punishment would have been handed down in the form of hangings in the old red-brick building’s “hanging tower.” 

However, that tower was never used for its intended purpose. No one was ever hung by law enforcement in the old Milam County Jail. Yet, the trees on the courthouse lawn were used for outdoor hangings, ensuring that earlier citizens of our county would have a front-row seat to the executions.  

In a totally different fashion, death-penalty convicted prisoners in by-gone days would have been subjected to an execution by electric chair at the “Walls Unit” in Huntsville.  

Patrons of the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville can see on display a vintage electric chair known as  “Old Sparky.” This electric chair was used from 1924-1964 in the state penitentiary. “Old Sparky” is a popular exhibit in the Huntsville museum that was founded in 1989. Now that is something we don’t have here in Milam County.  

There will be much more to learn about the history of the Texas prisons on Tuesday evening, May 9. So join us at 6PM for an evening of historic accounts by Mr. David Stacks. It is sure to combine stories of the justice of small town Texas law enforcement with the huge undertaking of housing the Texas Prison System in the city of Huntsville for  174 years.