New warden starts duties this week

A new warden will be on deck at TDCJ Wallace and Ware units this week as Warden Jason Heaton moves to Huntsville.

Heaton, who served as warden at the Wallace and Ware units for two and a half years, has been promoted to Director of Training at the Huntsville facility.

Although his new duties began effective February 1, Heaton will be traveling back and forth for a few weeks to help facilitate the transition.

Warden Richard E. Wathen will be in Colorado City on Thursday and Friday of this week, but will not begin his duties immediately.

Wathen has worked with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 25 years.  His career began in 1984 as a correctional officer at the Huntsville Unit.  He served as sergeant at the Clements Unit and lieutenant at the Roach Unit before being promoted to captain at the Marlin Detention Center.  Wathen also served as captain at the Gatesville Unit.

He served as major at the Smith Unit and later asassistant warden at the Allred Unit in Iowa Park.
He was promoted to senior warden at the Rudd Unit in 2006 and at the Montford Unit in Lubbock from 2007 until his promotion to the Wallace/Ware Unit.

Known as Richie, he and his wife of 23 years, Liz, have two grown sons attending college.

Wathen is an avid hunter and has been featured in the Texas Trophy Hunters Association monthly magazine.