George Corbett

Dear Dennis, I will be forever grateful to have met you, even if it had to have been in prison. I enjoyed working with you in the kitchen, and am very grateful you invited me to your "Leadership Skills" workshop. The class was inspirational for me, and gave me a much needed boost to get through each week. Through it, I got to know many new friends, and see old friends in a new light. The many topics that we covered together, that you eventually condensed into your "15 steps for success" lectures, gave me intellectual and spiritual stimulation that was much lacking, as well as practical information and insight into my own condition. I continue to benefit from those classes to this day. Thank you, and I wish you great success in any endeavor you undertake!

George A. Corbett

Peyton Myrick

My name is Peyton Myrick. I am an ex-felon. I will be 31 in 2 days. I spent 3 years in prison for trafficking cocaine. Currently, I am walking the tightrope of probation, which will last for two years altogether. I have been out of prison for four months, and yet it seems much longer than that somehow. The shadow of prison lay behind me now, instead of all about. It is a long shadow indeed, yet not without merit, for I have found myself from within the darkness of that abyss, which is the moral of this tale. So let me tell you what has happened.

The night my world was turned upside down was never supposed to happen. I had finally gotten myself out of the wretched game, or so I had thought, until a fateful phone call from an old friend set the wheels spinning, and I found myself breaking an important promise that I had just made to myself — to stay out of the game for good. "Alright, this one last time," I said. I was all too right. When the world and the lights and my head stopped wheeling, the rug was finally pulled from under my feet, and I battled my long, fierce cocaine addiction during my first 8 days in the Wake County jail, along with a loathsome conscience. After an excruciatingly suspenseful few months out on bail, I was sentenced to 6 years in prison; 3 active, 3 suspended. If I violate my probation, I go back for the other three years. Talk about incentive. And that was that. I was now a part of the machine — the long, winding conveyor of justice that won't stop, no matter how sick it makes you, no matter how hard you wish it would go away. I was a part of the lost sea of souls, strewn together among an endless sea of gravel and concrete. I was desperate: desperate for help, desperate for forgiveness, desperate for friendship, desperate for solace, desperate for hope. But I had friends and family who loved and pitied me, who sent me books that I had asked for, and money to help me get by. The funny thing, however, was that I had begun to change in a most dramatic fashion. Gone was the quasi entrepreneur on a rickety short-cut to hell. In his place, a young man with eyes wide open, whose soul was now mending, was finally taking a long lost stand. I was as thirsty for knowledge and wisdom as I have ever been, and probably ever will be. The only thing that could begin to comfort me was redemption; not socially, but morally. I became an avid reader, which I had never been. I read mostly philosophy, and studied dramatic writing. I was fascinated by correlations between the two, such as the notion that obstacles and complications are the triggers for the drama in our lives, and that it is how we deal with them that determines our character and out-come. More importantly, I was rediscovering who I really am, that fanciful fellow I had abolished and abandoned so frightfully. I was on a mission to make the most of my dreadful lot, and this was what I did.

In time I met a friend and mentor Dennis Gaddy on the inside who stoked the flame of enlightenment I had been tending with an unparalleled enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. He shared his collection of classic personal development material dutifully, and I soaked up the pages as if my very life depended on it. Funny how that works, for I believe that in some ways, it did. I became addicted to the power of positive thought, as this was the one place I could go that could not be controlled by the dullards that lorded their pathetic power over us, the ones who sought to confiscate this material from us, whether we deserved it or not. But they know not what they do. Nevertheless, this was the one way I could feel that this nightmare was not only valuable, but meant to be. And so it was for me. had to go down a long, dark road to find the light, and I am here to tell you that if one is on that path, there is no other way off. Yet it is the path that we all must travel, for all other roads lead to madness or despair. But don't take my word for it. Ask a six time loser and see what he has to say.

Sincerely, Peyton Myrick

Rodney Talley

My name is Rodney Talley and I met Dennis Gaddy in 2003 while serving a prison sentence for armed robbery. This connection has outlived both of our prison sentences as he continues to serve as a mentor and friend. Despite our differences in religious opinions and thoughts, Dennis never allowed that to come between his passions for working with people. The principles that he imparted to me has aided in my transition back into society, business ventures, and most importantly, family. As I often share with my wife, the connections that we have with people are at times destinies fulfilled. Dennis has been an aid and enlightener in dark and desolate times. Apart from his words, his works speaks volumes, and I am pleased to call him my mentor.

Rodney Talley

Rickey Moore

Dear Dennis, I wanted to just write a quick note to you to thank you for all of your mentoring and mostly for befriending me, while at Wake Correctional. You have no idea the impact your program, as well as yourself, has made on my life.

It was a very wise chaplain that allowed you to do what no other inmate in DOC could do, teach in a manner that allowed persons of all faiths to come together, learn about leadership principles, share ideas and grow through the differences to find the common center, without dogma getting in the way. It was beautiful to participate in, and now I actually miss that part of my life.

So, once I get past my probation, I hope to be sharing that again with you as soon as I can travel there. Meanwhile, I use your "Principles of Leadership" to navigate the 'real-world' and all of it's reefs and shoals. It ain't easy.

You taught me to tell the truth and to trust that the Creator will provide an open door, when another one closes. That is what I got the most out of it all... simple Faith in a Purpose, and being Prepared for when Purpose arrives. Had I learned that at an earlier stage of my life, I won't have traveled the rocky road that I did. Nor would I have hurt the people that I hurt.

That is pretty much all there is to living a responsible life and, Dennis, you always walked and talked purposefully. You never faltered, that I saw. That sustained me and I thank the Creator of the Universe for having created you. That comes from the core of my being, and I pray that your Purpose comes to fruition. I pray that everyone can experience a Dennis Gaddy, in their life.

Your "brother from a different mother", Rickey Moore

Werner Matthews

While housed at Wake Correctional Center, I had the privilege of meeting Dennis Gaddy. At the time, Dennis was planning a leadership class in conjunction with Chaplain Hales' Project Nehemiah class. Dennis invited me to be amongst the first participants in this class. During these sessions we learned the fundamentals of planning, brainstorming, reassessing, and implementation of our goals. This class was instrumental in helping me to achieve several of the goals I've accomplished since my release. Currently, I am gainfully employed as a computer consultant, I am married to a wonderful woman, and we own our own home. We've also been able to travel extensively. I learned to set goals, and lay out a plan of action towards achieving those goals. In addition to the training, Dennis was able to bring in several notable speakers such as Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and Wake County Superintendent of schools Bill McNeal. These speakers shared with us their "keys to success". From the beginning, I have watched this program grow and develop into such a wonderful and enriching program. The potential is limitless, and I personally believe that Dennis' approach is both effective and innovative.

Sincerely, Werner J. Matthews