Douglas 73/74, Anchor Home
These are the facts: These facts will upset many of you. Each of us in a certain age group, were placed in the girls/boys home via court order, or otherwise, to be taught the morals that we were lacking. Of course contact with family was not permited for a time, in order that we might ajust. Mail was censored for several or various reasons, ie escape plans, foul language, etc. Unwed mothers agreed that their child would be adopted, babies were not sold as atheiest.com implied. The trouble with the state of Texas began in 73. I know, I WAS THERE! I had escaped with two others, we were caught and returned. And given some licks as punishment. Days later, One of us three decided to escape again. I advised against it, due to all the rattle snakes and dangers of the desert area for this young man was not the rugged type. However, he insisted.
I reported him and having no other way to confine him, one wrist was cuffed to his headboard. He escaped that night, headboard and all. Broke the headboard and when caught, still had the headboard post cuffed to his wrist. He reported abuse and tainted food ( blackeyed pea sprouts, he called maggots ). The abuse was the seven or eight licks he got for running away. He clearly and grossly exagerated the facts because of the attention he was getting. We were swarmed with news media and DHR. Nearly all 70 boys freely stated that there was no abuse or bad food, etc. The superviser had told us to speak freely and honestly.
However DHR would not relent, for they like control and have never agreed with separation of church and state. When they failed to get the results they were after, they swarmed Lester's Home/ The Rebecca, with their unfounded abuse stories. And of course they found young people, like many of you were, who were bitter because their freedom had been taken away by the courts/parents, etc, who thought that getting their butt paddled was abuse. And who thought they were abused because there was no tv garbage for them to watch, and couldn't have all the junk food they wanted, who didn't want to learn about God and his love them. But rather do what they wanted, when they wanted, which is why they were there in the first place. These type youngsters made easy targets and were willing to say anything in hopes that they might get to go back home. I can not say that there was no abuse what so ever, but I will say this to whoever you are, that you lie, when you say that Lester and his wife abused you.
And to the man who claims that he worked in the office of the Anchor Home, I say may God have mercy on your lying soul. How dare you imply that boys were taken away, never to be heard from again. The only boys removed were the undesired homosexuals who were foumd out and placed in State Homes.
As a young man, I needed help for I was rebelious and loved my freedom as much as any of you. I had commited crimes and my attorney, Mark Turner, ( if his daughter is reading this, I say hello again ) ask the court to place me in the Anchor Home six month program, rather than stick me in a state home for two years. And I thank God he did!! At first, I hated it as you already know. But as I began to exercise some maturity, I could clearly see that the vast majority of these people were trying to teach me the true menaing of right and wrong. NOT brainwashing me. I too learned the books of the bible and moved on to bigger learnings,until I was able to embrace the fact that I was loved and cherished by God. For those of you who claim abuse, that call yourselves survivors, I knew Lester and came to love him and ALL he stood for. It is my belief that the vast majority of you refused the teaching that was offered and now have spent your petty lives spreading slanderous and vicious stories of a great and godly man. If any truely were abused, my heart goes out to you and I pray that the Lord severly punish all of you who have lied about your Roloff Home experience.