Parker County Today April 2018 | Page 80

single-handedly opened a whole new genre of fiction. commit felony offenses has contrib- uted to that. PCT: What do you do to decompress? RD: Here are words that I thought I would never say: “Go to the gym and work out”. My wife and I are at the gym six days a week. It’s funny because I remember telling Parker County District Attorney Don Schne- bly “Why would I work out? What am I going to gain for all that time and exercise—a year, maybe two?” He’s reminded me of that several times. PCT: What is your definition of the best day ever?  RD: As my kids get older-- one is finishing college and the other is starting college—my wife and I have talked about that a lot lately. My idea of the best day ever is a day when my wife and I can spend the entire day with both of our boys at home and finish up the day grilling ribeye steaks for dinner. PCT: What is something people don’t know about you? RD: I was born in Holland while my father, an Air Force pilot, was stationed there. For the longest time I kept my wooden shoes.  PCT: What would you most like to be remembered for? RD: I would most like to be remem- bered as someone who did the right thing. Only one group of lawyers in Texas, prosecutors, has a mandate that their job is not to convict, but to see that justice is done. PCT: If you could have lunch with any one, either living or dead from history, who would it be?  RD: I think I would have to take the opportunity to break bread with Jesus. Everyone in my Sunday School class has heard me say a thousand times how much I envy Paul on the road to Damascus. Sometimes faith is hard as you go through life and you see, as I do every day, what people do to each other. To move from the realm of faith to certainty holds a lot of appeal. 78 PCT: If you had to do another job than what you’re doing, what would you do?  RD: I’m guessing that I would either be a teacher or a financial services representative PCT: What is your impact to Parker County? RD: Parker County is a great place to live. A large part of that is because families feel safe. I hope my work aggressively prosecuting persons who PCT: What’s the best piece of advice you would give?  RD: It would be something my dad told me while I was still in junior high. He said “You are going to get beat. That’s okay. There is always going to be someone stronger, smarter, and faster at some point in your life. Just make sure you never get beat because you got outworked”. That has stuck with me. I’ve faced a lot of really good defense lawyers— and been beaten by some of them. But I don’t think I ever lost a case because I was outworked. PCT: What is the most interesting thing you have ever done in your life? RD: I think one of the most unusual is that I can remember that my wife and I had planned to get married in November of 2006. We picked a date and had invited family and few close friends. We decided to have then District Judge Don Chrestman marry us in his courtroom. As it turns out, I got stuck in trial that week. I remem- ber remarking to the jury that “Hang on—I’ve got to run across the hall and get married really quick and I’ll be right back with you.” My wife and I still laugh about that. Laurie Jones Laurie is a retired educator of almost seven years having taught kindergarten and second grade for 33 years, 32 in Weatherford ISD. For the past five years she has been in a volunteer position as President of the Board of Direc- tors for Parker County Fine Arts Association/Theatre Off The Square, Weatherford’s community live theatre. PCT: How did you get into your occupation? LJ: Regarding my present position, having been involved with vocal performance in high school and college, anything pertaining to the fine arts had always been appeal- ing to me. I auditioned for a play at Theatre Off The Square just on a whim and landed a leading role. The rest is history, so they say. In the past 14 years, I have acted, have been an assistant director, a co-director of our Summer Kid’s Theatre Camp, a member of the Board of Directors and now the President. PCT: What is your favorite novel? LJ: I took Black Literature for one of my classes at the University of Texas years ago, and we read Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The novel touched my heart then and continues to be one that opens the mind with powerful messages. PCT: What do you do to decompress? LJ: One of my favorite ventures is to attend a musical. Sitting in a lovely theatre with superb acting and fabu- lous music takes me to a happy place. If I need to decompress and am not able to go to a musical, savor- ing a little chocolate while sitting in a park will do.