Standing at the door of your new home, a prison cell at the Stiles unit in Beaumont, one can only assume how you would feel when the heavy metal door closes securely behind you for the first time.

For Damon West, he did not have to assume. The feelings of guilt and how he let his family down, depression of having ruined his life, and fear of having to live his life in a place that previously only was found in his nightmares was now all too real. And was going to be for the next 65 years. How could this have happened?

Those who knew Damon growing up remembered him as the all-American kid from a good family here in Port Arthur. To the handsome Thomas Jefferson high school quarterback who received a scholarship to the University of North Texas, the sky was the limit on his success and future.

After his college football plans were derailed by injuries, Damon set out to become a stockbroker, training in the Dallas area. Living the life, he ended up trying crystal meth for the first time.

Unfortunately, as happens to many when they start down this road, they become engulfed by it. The next thing they know it has completely taken over their life. And Damon was no different.

To support his growing expensive habit, he and several other meth addicts began burglarizing homes and selling the items they stole for more meth. They were breaking into so many homes that the Dallas Police dubbed the group the “Uptown Burglars.”

The group was arrested in 2008 with Damon receiving a 65-year sentence. At the age of 33 he foresaw the rest of his life living in prison. 

Prison can change a person. Some become worse than they were when they first went in and become repeat offenders that find themselves in and out of prison their entire life.

Others find their purpose. They find God, when they need Him the most. And He helps them to get through the most difficult time of their life. This also happened to Damon West.

He leaned on his faith in God day in and day out, and after nearly seven years behind bars, Damon was released on parole.

He has become a man on a mission to share his story with anyone who will listen, speaking to students, adults, athletic teams and even prison inmates whenever possible. He has been given the ultimate second chance to not only live his life, but to inspire and impact the lives of others simply by sharing his story. And maybe, just maybe be the voice that can change a life for the better. Groups interested in having Damon speak can contact him through his website at www.damonwest.org.   

This past week marks one year since Damon was released from prison. I’ll bet Thanksgiving has a special meaning for him and the entire West family. May we all be so blessed! 

Rich Macke is publisher of The Port Arthur News. Contact him at rich.macke@panews.com.