Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jul 2000 Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA) Copyright: 2000 The Fresno Bee Contact: http://www.fresnobee.com/man/opinion/letters.html Website: http://www.fresnobee.com/ Forum: http://www.fresnobee.com/man/projects/webforums/opinion.html Author: Terry Bergfalk HAGMAN WILL SPEAK TO GRADS OF DRUG COURT Television And Stage Actor Is A Recovering Alcoholic And Drug Addict. PORTERVILLE -- Actor Larry Hagman will be the guest speaker today for the graduation of 150 people from the Tulare County Adult Drug Court. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the Porterville Memorial Auditorium. Hagman starred as the corrupt and cold-blooded J.R. Ewing in the "Dallas" television series. He also starred in "I Dream of Jeannie" and played a presidential candidate in the movie "Primary Colors." "I hope that people from the community will attend the graduation ceremonies and hear Hagman's message," said Superior Court Judge Glade Roper, who created the Drug Court in 1996. "Hagman is a recovering alcohol and drug addict." Roper started the court after viewing several similar operations around the country. "After six years of throwing people in jail and seeing these same people appear before me over and over again," Roper said, "I realized that I was spending a lot of taxpayers' money with no results. That's when I decided to start the court. "Since that time, more than 400 people have graduated from the program, which places drug offenders in recovery rather than jail or prison." There were between 20 and 30 drug courts nationwide in 1996, and the number has grown to more than 600, Roper said. "Since our court began here in Tulare County, less than 10% of the graduates have committed new drug offenses." Hagman, son of the late stage and movie actress, Mary Martin, began his acting career on the stage before he appeared in television. He first starred in the 1965 television comedy series "I Dream of Jeannie" with Barbara Eden. His biggest role was that of J.R. on the Dallas series. The episode "Who shot J.R.?" on Nov. 21, 1980, was the second highest rated television show in history, demonstrating Hagman's success as the man everyone loved to hate. Hagman is a philanthropist who has championed numerous causes, including the American Cancer Society's "Great American Smokeout," the National Kidney Foundation's organ donation program and programs helping people recover from addiction. He was on the verge of death from a destroyed liver caused by his addictions to alcohol and drugs. He received a transplant in 1995 that saved his life. Since then, he has been active in promoting recovery from addiction. Roper urges the public to attend the ceremonies. "This graduation shows how beneficial the court really is," he said. "It is always an emotional experience to see so many people become clean, sober and productive citizens. Many are now working, paying taxes and taking care of their children, instead of being in prison or jail." - --- MAP posted-by: greg