Michael Furman: Mr. Everything

“You mean the most interesting man in the world?” Principal Matt Dowdell said about new head of WF Security, Michael Furman.

Michael Furman was born and raised in Camden, SC. He graduated from North Central High School in 1981; he was the second class to graduate from that high school before the earthquake hit it. Furman then went to SC State where he received a Master’s of Education.

Furman comes from a very big family; he has four sister and four brothers. Furman is happily married with one son, who has a son and a daughter. Furman said he had many role models in life. His biggest role model was his mom; she made him the man he is today. Mrs.

Reaves, who was one of his teachers growing up, encouraged him to pursue his degree. His godparents had a huge impact on his life; also they brought him to the Lord and pulled him to become a Christian, which has helped him through life.

Furman worked for the department of Justice for 32 years where he traveled the world doing it. He has lived in Dallas, Texas; Brooklyn, New York; Connecticut, and Washington, DC. He started working in 1987 as a Correctional Officer. Then he went to serve as a Case Master, which led him to be a Case Management Coordinator. After that, he went on to be an Executive Public Information Officer, and then Chief of Designation and Sentence Computation. He finally retired as an Associate Warden of Programs.

Throughout his jobs, Furman dealt with everything from mobsters and organized crime to drug dealers. In Danberg, Connecticut he worked at a correctional institute and in Bennettsville as an associate Warden.

“When I got there and was ready for work, there was only one way in and one way out and they had to let you out; you couldn’t just leave by yourself, ” Furman said.

Despite this, Furman said he never did have a bad day at his job; he enjoyed every single day he worked. Furman said most prisoners are surprisingly not bad people; most of them are like us and just got in the wrong crowd and made a mistake.

HIs advice to young people is to "watch out who you hang around with because if you do not it could cost your life.”

Furman also said prison is like a small community where prisoners can go outside and eat and talk. Prisoners who did not graduate high school are required to go to school and get their high school diploma.

Furman said he had no struggles or obstacles he faced working and going to school. He said that his Faith in God was a big reason why; he is a Strong believer in his faith and it helped him through his life

and is the reason he is successful.

Furman’s favorite sports team is the Dallas Cowboys; when he use to live in Texas he would go and watch the games. He even one time went on to the field and took a picture right on the middle of the star on midfield. Texas is by far his favorite state. He is also a big Miami Heat fan; he was cheering them on in the NBA Finals this year.

Some of the hobbies Furman loves to do is play basketball, read and walk. Some of his favorite types of music are country, blues, and gospel music.

After he retired from the justice system Furman’s dream job was to work for the American Airlines but couldn’t do it due to Covid. He didn’t have a job but his wife told him he needed to get out the house because he was “driving her insane” so he came to West. He said the main reason he came West was the school mission statement on the web page, which says: “Educate! Prepare! Inspire!”

Furman said that all of the staff at West has been extremely nice and welcoming to him.

Michael Furman is someone that one would want to look up to with the positive the attitude he has everyday. The nice gentle smile he has he is someone that others want to be around and talk to. Just being around Furman for 30 minutes taught this student reporter how to go through life.

”My goals coming to West are to make sure students get their education and are safe,” said Furman.