Lisa Lamb
(502) 564-4726 (office)
(502) 330-0362 (cell)

Frankfort, KY – Kentucky Department of Corrections Commissioner John D. Rees today announced the promotion of Michael Ferguson as warden of the Bell County Forestry Camp (BCFC). Ferguson was named acting warden of the minimum-security prison in October 2004 after the retirement of Doug Fletcher. Today’s announcement reflects the decision to appoint Ferguson to the post.

“Michael Ferguson has been and will continue to be an excellent leader for the Bell County Forestry Camp,” said Rees. “He and his family have been members of the Bell County community for many years and I know the community applauds Michael’s achievement with our Department. I am extremely pleased when we are able to develop and utilize local talent, especially in such a critical job as warden.”

A native of Pineville, Ferguson has spent his entire career in Corrections at the Bell County Forestry Camp. He joined the staff at BCFC as a Classification and Treatment Officer in 1991. He was promoted to Deputy Warden in 2001.

Ferguson is a 1977 graduate of Bell County High School, where he was the first black student to enroll. He graduated from Sue Bennett Junior College and then Eastern Kentucky University. At EKU he received his bachelor’s degree in sociology and a secondary education teaching certificate. He received an Accelerated Supervisor Teaching Certificate, which enabled him to teach the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) curriculum in Somerset, Kentucky at an ACE training center in 1984.  He became an ordained minister in 1983 and established an evangelist ministry (Word of Deliverance, Incorporated) in 1991.

Ferguson and his wife Martha have two children, Brittani Leshea and Michael Dontae.