The Last Supper, Texas-Style

While George Bush was governor, Texas got the reputation of a state where executions took place on an assembly line schedule. And that efficiency continues. But not without compassion, as this page from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/finalmeals.htm) makes clear. Before they are killed, Texas prisoners can make a "final meal request." They don't always get everything they ask for. But here are some requests from earlier this year:

May 15, Bruce Jacobs:

Whole fried chicken, 12 buttered bread slices, fried onion rings and okra, six RC Colas, one large bag of Fritos corn chips, two tomatoes, salt, and pepper.

July 2, Hilton Crawford:

Twelve beef ribs, three enchiladas, chicken-fried steak, crisp bacon sandwich, ketchup, a loaf of bread, cobbler, three Cokes and three root beers, french fries, and onion rings.

July 9, Christopher Black Sr.:

One steak (medium well), fried chicken (wings and thighs), french fries, mushroom gravy, mixed steamed vegetables, chocolate fudge cake, peach cobbler, sweet tea, bread, and chef salad with Italian dressing.

July 24, Allen Janecka:

Chicken-fried steak, gravy, french fries, ketchup, salad, blue-cheese dressing, iced tea with lemon, two sodas, rolls, and butter.

September 9, Larry Hayes:

Two bacon double cheeseburgers, french fries, onion rings, ketchup, coleslaw, two diet Cokes, one quart of milk, one pint rocky road ice cream, one pint of fried okra, salad dressing, tomato, and onion.

Additional reporting: Sheelah Kolhatkar, Ashley Glacel, and Alicia Ng