The President and CEO of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch has issued a public apology to alumni who claim to have suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse during their time at the Ranch. (File photo)

The President and CEO of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch has issued a public apology to alumni who claim to have suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse during their time at the Ranch.

On Wednesday morning, an article published in The Guardian brought to light many claims of abuse boys who lived at the Ranch during the 1960s through 1990s had suffered. Now, Cal Farley's President and CEO Dan Adams says he is truly sorry to those boys, who are now grown men.

In a statement sent to media outlets Wednesday afternoon, Adams said, "Thousands of people have found hope and healing at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, both past and present. Tragically, not everyone who participated in our programs through the years was helped by them. No words by me or anyone else will change that."

Adams also stated:

For those who left Boys Ranch having experienced abuse of any form, I am truly sorry, both as the leader of this organization and as a man. It is for these reasons that regulatory oversight and strength-based models of care in this field evolved, and Cal Farley’s strives to be a leader in observing both. What we can do to respect the dignity of these alumni is to commit ourselves to providing unassailable care for the young people who call Boys Ranch home today. And, that’s exactly what we do every day.”





Adams said it is important to remember the alumni reporting these things are lifelong members of the Boys Ranch family and Cal Farley's remains committed to helping their alumni in the best way possible.

Those who are alleging the abuse say they were subjected to physical abuse, emotional abuse and exploitation. Examples of the harsh punishment being alleged include beating the boys with a belt (sometimes up to sixty lashes), striking the genitals with an implement, tying a boy to a horse and dragging him along the ground, punching in the face and stomach, kicking a boy with heavy boots while he was on the ground and banging a boy's head on a metal door with great force.

The men claiming the abuse have asked that Boys Ranch do several things, including making a public statement, make public information truthful, utilizing best abuse prevention practices, set up an abuse survivors fund and host a "Reunion of Healing". On Wednesday afternoon, they got at least one of those things when Adams issued the public apology.