Sheriff, Ranger Linked Again





PAMPA - The late Gray County Sheriff Rufe Jordan and Texas Ranger Bill Balen often worked together during their lifetimes. Even though they're gone now, the two have been linked again with the dedication of a Texas Department of Criminal Justice intermediate sanction facility.

The Baten unit, which houses parole violators, officially received its name in a ceremony last week, Jordan prison unit Warden Robert White said. The 428-bed sanction facility is a freestanding structure located directly behind the prison.

The parole unit has been in operation since April 1995, but it is the first of five such facilities in Texas to have a name, White said.

The prison board's decision to allow the naming was sparked by a conversation between White and Texas Ranger Gary Henderson, White said. "He (Henderson) said Bill Baten was an extremely fine man" and the parole unit should have his name, the warden said.

"Gary gathered all the documentation to convince the board it was a good idea," White said.

The ties between Jordan and Baten and the close location of the two Gray County facilities - both under the supervision of White - were among the factors that made the naming of the Baten unit a good idea, the warden said.

"It was just ideal . . it really honors their long time relationship," he said.





MATT CURRY, Globe-News Assistant Regional Editor
January 8, 1997

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