I was the mother of a little girl in 1946 when the Degnan murder occurred. Like so many other mothers, I had fears for my daughter`s safety. In the beginning, I used the common ”bogyman” approach, and then, later, the bogyman had a name-William Heirens.
How could I have known that 43 years later, my daughter would form a committee on behalf of Bill Heirens in an effort to have him released from prison? And how could I have known that her initial involvement with Bill Heirens would come about because of her father`s belief in Bill`s
rehabilitation?
My husband, Norval D. Hodges, an attorney, met Bill and believed in him more than six years ago. Before he could become involved in Bill`s situation in a useful way, he died, and in so doing, passed the torch to my daughter, Dolores Kennedy.
I have visited with Bill Heirens several times in Vienna. Dolores, Bill`s mother and I go together to see this remarkable man, who has spent all of his adult life in prison. I have been the recipient of his thoughtfulness and generosity on many occasions. I am proud of my husband`s initial assessment of Bill and I am proud of my daughter for inheriting her father`s idealism and putting into motion that about which he dreamed. And, I am equally proud to know Bill Heirens.
The free society can only benefit from the release of this man.
