Marvel honored by prisons

Assemblyman John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain, was honored by the Department of Corrections on Wednesday for more than 20 years of service on the legislative committee that oversees prison industry programs.

Director Howard Skolnik said Marvel is one of the original members of that board and one of the lawmakers who convinced him to leave the state of Illinois prison system and help Nevada develop its prison industries program.

The proclamation and plaque praised Marvel's 30 years of service in the Assembly and his support for the prison industries programs, which provide inmates with jobs and job skills while serving their sentences. Those programs also help offset prison costs by generating income from sales of products ranging from license plates to mattresses, inmate clothing and office furniture.

The proclamation praised Marvel's "well placed advice, business sense and thoughtfulness," saying the programs provide inmate workers the sense of pride and self-worth that helps them reform their lives as well as the opportunity to learn trades that will support them after release.

The proclamation concludes: "Now, therefore, the Department of Corrections has paroled you to live a life of happiness and family."

Marvel said the prison industries committee was one of the parts of his service he most enjoyed.

He leaves the Legislature the day after the November elections when a successor will be sworn in to represent District 32.

Marvel, who first took office in the 1979 Legislature, was defeated in the primary this year. District 32 includes parts of Lander, Pershing, Humboldt and Washoe counties.