Junior Steele finally heard the words that he had waited so long to hear. The words from the Board that would, after more than 27 years, allow Steele to walk out the gates a free man. On May 20, 2009, Steele left San Quentin into the arms of his waiting family.
Junior had some very productive years here while at S.Q., attending numerous self-help programs, maintained an excellent work ethic, you could always find him working on small rock sculptures and pendants.
He will be remembered fondly by the friends he left behind, among them Homer McWilliams who said, “Very few people knew Jr. as long as I have known him. When he received his date from the Board we were all very happy for him.”
Junior realized his greatest dream of returning home to his dying father so that he could go fishing with him.
“Junior, we all hope you and your father catch the big one.” said another one of his close friends.
“Junior wasn’t much of a talker, especially when it came to matters of the Board, he could get frustrated easy. When talking together the hour before his parole hearing, he was told to think about the big picture, and that his freedom was on the line. He was listening because he told the Board what they needed to hear and was found suitable for parole. When Lt. Robinson brought Junior his walking papers that said he was going home, there were many of us cheering for him. I wish you well Junior,” says Williams one of Junior’s oldest friends of 25 years.
Junior mentioned on the morning before he departed, “If I had a dollar for every hand shaken this morning I would have over a hundred dollars.”
—Keith L. Lettier