Bumgarner trades prison work for classroom

North Carolina Department of Public Safety

Bumgarner Trades Prison Work for Classroom

RALEIGH – To those who know him, it makes sense that Mike Bumgarner is trading work inside a prison for a new challenge in the classroom. After all, Bumgarner has spent most of his adult life helping others, whether they are employees, inmates or neighbors.

Since his retirement Jan. 1, Bumgarner hasn’t had much time to rest. He’s already begun a new part-time assignment as a criminal justice instructor with Mt. Olive College. "I started teaching classes for the college at night about three years ago, to see how I liked it, and I just love it," Bumgarner said. In addition to teaching, he’s also planning to do some part-time tax work this spring.

Despite his busy, "retired" schedule, Bumgarner joined with more than 130 colleagues and friends to celebrate his Department of Correction career. Speakers at the event represented distinct periods of Bumgarner’s career, which began in 1971 at what was known as "Meck2" in Huntersville. Short jokes aside, one by one they spoke of Bumgarner’s professional spirit and dedication.

In presenting Bumgarner with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Assistant Secretary Lynn Phillips called Bumgarner a man "small in stature, but a giant in heart, dignity and integrity." Phillips said that Bumgarner’s management of Southern Correctional Institution in the 1980s was a forerunner of almost everything the Division of Prisons does today as an organization.

Many of those attending the luncheon had worked with Bumgarner at Southern, which he helped open as superintendent in 1982. "He set the standard at Southern and when I took over all I had to do was hold the reins," said current Southern Superintendent Jay Clark who added Bumgarner’s best advice to him was to "work the job, don’t let it work you."

John Taylor, commander of IMPACT East, spoke of Bumgarner’s days as part of the Youth Command, where he served as manager from 1992 to 1997. "He would always listen and sometimes he might not agree with you. But one thing was for sure, when you left you always knew where you stood with Mike," Taylor said.

Among the former Correction employees who attended to help wish Bumgarner well was Bud Walker, former director of chaplaincy services. "I knew way back then that he was different. Everything in his life is in passionate pursuit of excellence," said Walker, commenting that Bumgarner strives to be the best in all he does whether it is playing rugby, prison administration or in dealing with adversity in life.

Also attending the luncheon were Bumgarner’s wife Debbie, daughters Leslie and Katie, mother Frieda and sister Frieda Kerr.

Bumgarner shared some of the lessons he’s learned in his career, which has spanned much of the state from the S. Piedmont area office in the 1970s to his last assignment as administrator at Nash Correctional Institution, which began in 1997. Among the lessons was the value and importance of knowing how to talk to inmates, which he credited to Nathan Rice. Bumgarner also said he has no greater respect for a person than for a hard-working correctional officer who day after day does the things that make management look good.