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Saturday, July 25, 2009

A LETTER TO THE PAROLE BOARD

July 25, 2009

Adult Parole Authority
Ms. Cynthia B. Mausser, Chair
770 West Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio 43222

RE: Martin Kilbane (148299) and Owen Kilbane (148329)

Dear Ms. Mausser and Parole Board Members,

Having been active in the Irish community in northeast Ohio over the years, I have always been aware of who Martin and Owen Kilbane were. Being a published writer, I have a natural curiosity about people and places. Being semi-retired this year, and having a bit more “free time”, I took it upon myself to find out more about the brothers. And, as I suspected, they have roots in County Mayo, Ireland, as I do.

I undertook the idea to meet them personally and have done so on more than one occasion. They are two men who have been incarcerated for thirty years for involvement in horrendous crimes in their youth. I discovered they are two men who are now spiritually-connected, and obviously not the same brash and misdirected men they were thirty years ago.

What is amazing about their story is the fact that everybody else associated with the crimes are walking free today. Well, Judge Robert Steele, died in prison. One triggerman, who murdered two people, was even given a new identity in government witness protection. He is out and about while Owen and Martin languish.

These model prisoners have both obtained college degrees. Sons of an alcoholic and absent father, they were never connected to their ethnic roots. Now, however, both are pursuing that discovery with great vigor. They attend Catholic Mass and are now members of the Medina-county based Irish Brigade Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, an Irish and Catholic fraternal Order. They are now also members of the Mayo Society of Greater Cleveland.

Martin and Owen are now relatively old men. I say that even though they are younger than me. Please consider releasing them to their families and loved ones to allow them to spend their few remaining years outside Grafton’s walls.

Thank you for your consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

ACHIEVEMENTS AND EDUCATION - OWEN KILBANE

ACHIEVEMENTS and EDUCATION
Owen Kilbane A148-329


•:. AMERICAN RED CROSS

> Organized and founded a branch of the American Red Cross at the Grafton Correctional Institution (GCI) in 1989
• Presently Chairman of the Rules and Procedures Committee
• Former Chairman of the Board of Directors
• Nine members of the Branch have received Certificates of Merit* from the President of the United States for saving or sustaining lives
• One of the branch members help save the life of Mrs. Majors a staff member at the Grafton Correctional Institution



•:• NATIONAL AWARD NOMINATION

> On November 14, 1997, Owen Kilbane attempting to save the life of Pete Valazque by performing CPR
• On December 12, 1997 nominated for Certificate of Merit*
• February 1998 received a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action
> On March 28, 1999, Owen Kilbane attempting to save the life and successfully sustaining the life of John Venes by performing CPR
• On April 14, 1999 nominated for a Certificate of Merit*

•:~ AWARDED CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

> On March 17, 2000 President Clinton signed a Certificate of Merit* for Owen Kilbane for successfully sustaining the life of John Venus (please see copy attached to this document)

* Certificate of Merit awarded to person(s) having saved or sustained a life. It is the highest award given by the American Red Cross and is signed by the President of the United States.


•:• EDUCATION

~ Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Ashland University )~- Special Skills
Computer Programs/Applications
• Office XP, MS Windows 2007, MS Enterprise Office 2007, MS Word 2007, MS Excel 2007, MS Access 2007, MS Power Point 2007, MS Publisher 2007
• Investment Management
• Stock Analysis, Portfolio Management
• Small Business Development and Administration
• Marketing, Business Management, Organizational Analysis, Business Proposal Development
• Junior Degree in Accounting
• Auditing, Cash/Accrual Accounting
• Communications Skills
• Debate Coach Ashland University, Speech Writing, Article Published, Learning Magazine
• Prison Media Literacy, Cleveland State University
• Video Tape Editing, Camera Operator

•:• JUVENILE OFFENDERS PROGRAM

> Former member of Heart to Heart
• A positive interaction program between Juveniles and convicts at GCI
> US Justice Department, Youth Offenders Program
1 of 2 1108-0000-AN Ao1oB-101


ACHIEVEMENTS and EDUCATION Owen Kilbane A148-329


• Dir. John Dawson, Director, participated in Justice Dept. Problem & Responses for Juvenile offenders

•:• CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR

> COMMUNITY FIRST AID AND SAFETY
• Standard First Aid
• CPR/AED Automated External Defibrillator certified
• Three time winner of Instructor of the year
> AIDS Awareness
> Preventing Disease Control
> Facts For Life
~ Stress Management/Stress Busters
~ Positive Effective Parenting Program
> Laubach Tutor/ProLiteracy America

•:• PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

~ Vietnam Veterans, Lima Chapter 261 Instructor Job Search
• instructor Real Estate Acquisition
> Victim Awareness Program, Grafton
• Graduate and Alumni
~ Am Vets,
• Instructor Personal Finance Course
> Jaycees, Grafton Valley
• Presidential Advisor
• Charter Member
> Jaycees, Lima Ottawa Valley
• Public Relations Director
• Instructor Small Business Development
~ Grafton Braille Program
~ Motivational Guide Development
> Survive & Thrive in Flard Times Guide
~ Guest Speaker, G.C.I. programs.

•:• MISCELLANEOUS PARTICIPATION
> Community Service Workshop, GCI Program
~ Positive Solutions, GCI Program
> Organized and Coached
• Softball, Football, and Volleyball teams
• Division and Institutional Championship 1985-91

•:• OBJECTIVE UPON RELEASE
~ Reunited with Family
~ Restitution to the Victims Family and Community
> Employment
• Real Estate Management
• HotellMotel Management
• Securities Analysis
• Web Page design and development
~ Restore damage done to Family and Friends
> Expand PROs and CONs Project nationally PROs and CONs Project is a unique Restorative Justice Re-entr~Program
2 of 2 1108-0000-AN AutoB-lOl

ACHIEVEMENTS AND EDUCATION - MARTYN KILBANE

ACHIEVEMENTS and EDUCATION
Martyn Kilbane A148-299



•:• NATIONAL AWARD NOMINATION

On November 14, 1997, Martyn Kilbane attempting to save the life of Pete
Valazque by performing CPR
• On December 12, 1997 nominated for Certificate of Merit*
• February 1998 received a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action

On March 28, 1999, Martyn Kilbane attempting to save the life and
successfully sustaining the life of John Venes by performing CPR
• On April 14, 1999 nominated for a Certificate of Merit*

•:• AWARDED CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

On March 17, 2000 President Clinton signed a Certificate of Merit* for
Martyn Kilbane for successfully sustaining the life of John Venus (please
see copy aftached to this document)

* Certificate of Merit awarded to person(s) having saved or sustained a life.
It is the highest award given by the American Red Cross and is signed by the
President of the United States.


•:• EDUCATION

B. A. in Social Sciences 1990 University of Findlay
A.A. in Humanities 1986 Findlay College
A.A. in Sociology 1980 Shawnee State University
G.E.D. 1977 LucasvilleEDGED

•:~ JUVENILE OFFENDERS PROGRAM

J.A.I.L. program at Lucasville- Juvenile Awareness of Institutional Life -
counseling youth who come on tour to Lucasville 1979
1992 Chief John Walsh, Richfield Village Police brings youth down for Owen
and Martyn to talk with and tour the Grafton Correctional Institution
US Justice Department, Youth Offenders Program Dir. John Dawson, Director,
participated in Justice Dept. Problem & Responses for Juvenile offenders

•:• PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
1991 Chairman of AA meetings at Grafton Correctional Institution for 6 month
1989 one of the founding members of the GCI Branch of American Red Cross
2008 Guest Speaker, G.C.I. Programs
2008 Certificate for Red Cross Real Estate Program


•• INSTITUTIONAL RECORD Excellent
Work Record Excellent
Minimum Security since 1990
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Sunday, July 19, 2009

WRITE THE PAROLE BOARD

Family, friends and loved ones of anyone incarcerated in the Ohio Prison System are encouraged by the Adult Parole Authority to provide evidence of support for their release on parole. One way to do this is through a Letter to the Parole Board showing your support. Letters of support are evidence that you care and are willing to help. You have the right to voice your opinion; all correspondence is taken into consideration.

Please look over Owen and Martin Kilbane's Accomplishment sheets for ideas to mention in any correspondence with the Parole Board. They have served over 30 years on a minimum sentence of 15 years to life and have an excellent prison record.

There are no rules for support letters. It is very important that the Parole Board knows about your support. All letters to the Parole Board are confidential and are not made public. Sending letters of support gives you an opportunity to share in the decision-making p;rocess. Encourage others to write and let their voice be heard. Many prison staff members have told them they have one of the best prison records in the entire prison system.

Letters can be hand-written or typed. Just explain why you feel a parole is good for all concerned; list some of the accomplishments the brothers have achieved while in prison.

Please send a letter to:

Adult Parole Authority
Ms. Cynthia B. Mausser, Chair
770 West Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio 43222. Send a copy to: Friends of the Kilbane Brothers
POB 670685
Northfield, OH 44067 0685.

You can also call the Parole Board Authority at 614-752-1164.