News  Matthew DeVeau is presented with the third annual Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby Award

This award, based on the nomination of colleagues, is presented to an MPS employee and military veteran with distinguished service in both roles. The award was established in honor of Mrs. Oglesby, former Hampshire Superior Court Chief Probation Officer, military leader, and hero.

Mr. DeVeau was a sergeant in the National Guard. His grandfather served in World War II and a great uncle in the Korean conflict. Mr. DeVeau enlisted in the National Guard at 17. He served in the National Guard for six years and later became a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army.

“I’m very humble and grateful to be presented with this award. Captain Oglesby was a mentor and a person who was held in high regard and it means the world to me,” he said.

Brockton District Court Probation Officer Linda Santos opened the ceremony with a rendition of “God Bless America.” The event—which also included a Massachusetts Trial Court Color Guard—featured remarks by Commissioner Edward Dolan; Frank Oglesby, Mrs. Oglesby’s husband; Trial Court Veteran Services Coordinator Jason Thomas, and award recipient Mr. DeVeau. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly Budd, Massachusetts Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Locke, Court Administrator John Bello, and Associate Court Administrator Matt Cocciardi attended the ceremony.

“This event and our work with veterans is really a tangible demonstration of our work of inclusion and of reaching out to a special group of people with needs based on their experience and who they are. We as a service are stepping up into that space and intentionally understanding their needs and serving those needs,” said Probation Commissioner Edward Dolan.

Chief Justice Budd in her remarks stated, “It is great to be here with the Probation Department and great to be able to congratulate CPO Matthew DeVeau on receiving this award. I know it is a special award named for a special person. It shows the high esteem that your colleagues have for you. I also want to make sure to offer on behalf of myself and all the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court our thanks and appreciation to the Probation Department as a whole.”

Mr. Oglesby presented the award to Mr. DeVeau and told the audience, “Margaret was led by her strong Christian faith and she often attributed her achievements, successes, and challenges as gifts and lessons from God. Margaret believed that she was sent to Afghanistan because God wanted her to serve as a role model for the oppressed women in that country and to show that women are capable of leading even in combat in the Middle East.”

He added, “One of her strengths, tenets, and virtues is that she never let anyone define her or set any limits on her.  In the Probation Department, military, and in life, she lived to help those within her reach to succeed on their journey even though very often, their lives and choices differed from hers. She was a calm and very resourceful constant for so many people. I want you to know that she would be very pleased and honored that this award is annually bestowed on a deserving veteran….My family is stoked that this award is named for Margaret. Thank you very much.”

A former Hampshire Superior Court Chief Probation Officer, Mrs. Oglesby passed away on August 28, 2020 after a long illness. She served in the Army National Guard for 28 years retiring as a Major in 2010.  

Mrs. Oglesby 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.

She was recognized by the Springfield City Council and named “Outstanding Massachusetts National Guard Mentor for 2003.”

Mrs. Oglesby retired from the Massachusetts Probation Service (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.