News  Holyoke District Court Probationer Officer II Antonio Padilla is named the first recipient of the Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby Award

Holyoke District Court Probation Officer II Antonio Padilla, a former US Marine who supervises clients in the Western Massachusetts Veterans Treatment Court, was presented with the first Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby Award at the Massachusetts Probation Service’s 4th Annual Veterans Day Breakfast this week at the Massachusetts Probation Service Training and Operations Center (MTOC).

Mrs. Oglesby — former Hampshire Superior Court Chief Probation Officer, military hero, and leader — passed away on August 28 after a long illness. She was awarded a Bronze Star medal for her service in Afghanistan where she was deployed for nine months during “Operation Enduring Freedom.” She served as a US Army Captain and was responsible for commanding 154 soldiers as the Commander of the 747th Military Police Company with around the clock operations. Mrs. Oglesby retired from MPS in 2018 after serving as the Chief Probation Officer at Hampshire Superior Court from August 2013 until October 2018. She was an Assistant Chief Probation Officer at Springfield District Court from March 1999 through August 2013. Mrs. Oglesby first joined MPS in 1989 as a Probation Officer at Norfolk Probate & Family Court.

Mr. Padilla said of receiving the first Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby Award, “Thank you for allowing me to be a recipient of this award and the leadership team for selecting me. Also, I want to thank Chief Probation Officer Sean McBride for recommending me for the award. Thank you Judge McCloud for also allowing me to be part of the Veterans Treatment Court. Thank you very much.”

He said, “I would like to say with this award comes many responsibilities and it is a great, great honor to receive this award. But, as a veteran, comes a lot of responsibilities. With that responsibility comes a burden. That burden is that responsibility to lead by example, to be a part of the community, to ensure that you give a good name, as you give your family a good name, and your service a good name, the state of Massachusetts, and alas MPS a good name.”

Mr. Padilla added, “I will ensure Mr. Oglesby and everyone who is here today that I will honor that award and that is how we can honor Major Margaret Oglesby, Army National Guard retired and Chief Probation Officer.”

Enlisted in the US Marines in 1986 and serving in active duty until 1996, Mr. Padilla was deployed to Iraq in 2004 where he served during Operation Enduring Freedom until 2005. Mr. Padilla retired as a Gunnery Sergeant and was the recipient of numerous unit and commendation medals, including two joint commendation medals which according to Trial Court’s Veterans Program Coordinator Jason Thomas, are rare as joint awards are presented to an individual who has worked in joint operations with multiple services.

Frank Oglesby, Margaret’s husband of more than 30 years, attended the ceremony and presented the award to Mr. Padilla.

“I am so glad that the Massachusetts Probation Service is honoring my wife’s legacy and you’re the embodiment of the award and your commitment, your empathy. You spoke of leadership, service, accountability, and your body of work. Congratulations,” said Mr. Oglesby.

Probation Commissioner Edward Dolan said, “Margaret exemplified what is the very best of what today is meant to honor, a life of dedicated service, country, and community, and this award is meant to honor her by recognizing one of us who exemplifies what Margaret lived—that commitment, the service for country and community. And, that is a high honor indeed.”

The event — broadcast to MPS employees via Zoom — also featured remarks by State Representative Harold Naughton Jr.-(D-12th Worcester), Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard, and the Trial Court’s Veterans Program Coordinator Jason Thomas, who along with members of the MPS Executive Team — including Commissioner Dolan, First Deputy Commissioner Dianne Fasano, Deputy Commissioner-Pretrial Services Pamerson Ifill, Deputy Commissioner-Administrative Services Yvonne Roland, Deputy Commissioner-Programs Michael Coelho, General Counsel Sarah Joss, and Deputy Commissioner- Field Services Brian Mirasolo — selected Mr. Padilla for the award.

Representative Naughton said, “I understand that she was one of the most invested persons in her job, probation and the national guard. She never considered anyone a lost cause and that’s important. The commander can either take an interest in them or not and sometimes that soldier can be lost. I was told that Margaret saved a lot of soldiers. That means a lot. That’s called officership. That’s one thing that people like Colin Powell preached. When you stop caring about soldiers, you stop being a leader. It was all- important for her to get her troops prepared for deployment. One of her big concerns, and I don’t know if you know this, is that she prepared her family as well.”

He added, "Margaret Oglesby was a thoroughly grounded person, and a strong moral compass, served to guide her and those who knew her. She was a driven, loving person. That says it all and for the Probation Service to step up and create an award that continues to perpetuate and exemplify those values she brought to work in the army, Army National Guard, and Probation Service. I can’t think of a higher calling and I know you must be incredibly proud.”

Mrs. Oglesby's colleague, friend since seventh grade, and mentee Lorna Spencer, Statewide Supervisor of Superior Court Probation, spoke about her and acknowledged Mr. Oglesby.

"Thank you Frank for being that spouse that was 100% all the time. As you know, Margaret and I were friends since seventh grade. She was also my mentor," Mrs. Spencer said. "Had it not been for Margaret coming to my rescue, I would have never gotten through those reviews. Margaret came in twice a week, sometimes three times a week, to get those things done. Thank you for being here. Thank you for allowing us to have an award in her honor. She was a great leader and had integrity beyond integrity. She taught me a lot of things...Thank you to our veterans and thank you for your service."