TDCJ News

TDCJ Braille Facility Renamed in Honor of Delores Billman

September 18, 2024

GATESVILLE, Texas — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Braille Facility has been renamed The Billman Braille Center at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in recognition of Delores Billman's exceptional dedication and invaluable contributions to the facility. Delores Billman, who served the agency for 47 years, has been the plant manager of the braille facility at the unit for most of her career.

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) hosted a renaming dedication ceremony on September 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit. At the ceremony, TBCJ Chairman Eric Nichols praised Billman for her contributions to the ongoing success of the braille program.

“Delores Billman is a quiet but persistent force for good who has made a profound and lasting impact on countless lives. As a living cornerstone of the O'Daniel Unit, her leadership and dedication have helped create a place of advancement and opportunity for the inmate population,” Nichols said. “We are grateful for her invaluable contributions to our system and to our state, and we are honored to recognize her legacy by naming this facility in her honor."

Additionally, in a proclamation from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Billman’s service to the state was recognized.

“As the Braille Facility at the O'Daniel Unit is renamed in your honor, a leader with a heart for justice, you have left an indelible mark on our state and your life's work has been nothing short of transformative. Your leadership within the unit’s braille program has been an uplifting force for inmates and visually impaired students alike, and you have earned your place among the Lone Star State's finest,” the proclamation read. “Yours has been a career defined by compassion, hope, and purpose, and you have been instrumental in the program's success. This honor is a fitting tribute to a remarkable Texan, and I join a grateful state in celebrating a champion of justice.”

Billman’s commitment to the braille program and the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit, as well as her service to TDCJ and the State of Texas, have been instrumental to the braille program's growth and development. In 2000, Billman played a pivotal role in developing a curriculum for inmates in the braille program. Since then, the program has expanded to include 100 transcribers and 7 staff members. Billman has also been instrumental in organizing and hosting two in-prison braille conferences, attracting visitors from 13 states.

Billman’s dedication to the braille program extends beyond her professional responsibilities. She is a life member of the National Braille Association, a member of the California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI), and a member of the National Prison Braille forum. Her expertise has helped nearly 300 inmates receive their literary braille certification, with many achieving advanced certifications in textbook formatting, proofreading, Nemeth proofreading, and music.

Expressing her gratitude for the renaming of the braille program in her name, Delores humbly acknowledges the support and belief of the braille staff; Windham School District staff; O’Daniel Unit administration and staff; Region VI; Huntsville Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Logistics Division; as well as every inmate involved in the program.

“There is no other place I’d rather be than with the ladies enrolled in the braille program; learning, growing, healing, contributing to the community, and succeeding inside and outside the walls,” Billman said. “I believe that freedom is a state of mind and whether the ladies in white are released, or have to stay a while, braille provides a sense of freedom and purpose in life. The renaming of the braille program, in my name, feels almost surreal. I am humbled, honored, and grateful to those that made this happen.”

Billman believes that braille provides a sense of freedom and purpose in life, contributing to the successful careers and reintegration of the growing network of Billman Braille Center alumni.

Her remarkable contributions have made a lasting impact on the lives of the blind and visually impaired, both inside and outside the prison walls.