The HistoryMakers

Captain Samuel Farlee Saxton was born on August 5, 1929 in Ashville, North Carolina. Saxton attended Stevens High School but left at age fourteen. In 1944, he appeared before his draft board and said he had just turned eighteen to join the military.

Saxton trained at the exclusive/segregated training camp for African Americans at Montford Point Marine Base in North Carolina. This base was established in 1942 specifically for training African Americans. Starting as a steward, he rose through the ranks to become a commissioned officer. Highly decorated for his service in Korea and Vietnam, he was the Officer-in-Charge of a 300-bed correctional facility in the Republic of Vietnam. Later, he was the Assistant Officer in Charge of a 900-bed correctional facility at Camp Pendleton, California and later served as Officer in Charge for three years, writing the correctional training program that was adopted by the Naval Services.

Early in his military career, Saxton earned a high school diploma by passing the high school equivalency examination. Following his career in the Marine Corps, he received a B.S. degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland in 1975. He later received his M.A. degree in rehabilitative counseling.

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1975, Saxton served as Chief of Custody and Security in Montgomery, County, Maryland and then as Director of the County's Detention Center. He distinguished himself as a highly efficient and innovative corrections administrator and was appointed Director of Corrections in Prince George's County, Maryland, where he served from 1983 to 2000. Under his leadership a new, state-of-the-art correctional facility was built. He developed a computerized inmate population management system. Also, "The Awakening", his comprehensive drug treatment program, gained national attention and a visit by President Bill Clinton in 1994.

Saxton has been influential in the American Correctional Association having chaired various committees and task forces including the Adult Local Detention Committee, Women's in Corrections Advisory Committee and the Facility Construction Committee. He is the former President of the American Jail Association and past President of the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association. In 1986, Saxton received the Austin McCormack Award from the American Correctional Association for his innovations and contributions in both military and civilian corrections. He holds one the nation's highest awards in the field of corrections: the E.R. CAST Correctional Achievement Award presented by the American Correctional Association. Saxton served as chairman of the Marine Corp Council. He also served as President of the Montford Point Marine Association. From 1998 to 2004, Saxton worked as an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Prince George's Community College. He is the president and CEO of S & S Associates, Criminal Justice Consultants.

Saxton, a veteran of three wars, is married to Sylvia Hazel Saxton, and they reside in Mitchellville, Maryland.

Saxton was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on November 9, 2006.