“I’d probably be in jail.”

That’s where Hilary Maciejewski believes he’d be right now had he not come to live at Camp Oakland back in the 1950s and been mentored by the facility’s first director, the late Bill Matus.

“He saved me,” said the 78-year-old Sterling Heights resident. “Bill Matus took me under his wing.”

Maciejewski has the distinction of being Camp Oakland’s very first resident.

On Saturday afternoon, he returned to the 320-acre campus, which has been named Crossroads for Youth since 1999, to help Pistons with a Purpose do some holiday decorating there (see related story on Page 3).

Crossroads for Youth has been serving abused, neglected, at-risk and disadvantaged children since 1953.

Maciejewski came to live at Camp Oakland when he was around 10 or 11 years old. He came from an abusive home life and had a history of running away.

“I lived in dog houses. I panhandled. I did whatever I could do to survive,” he said.

Matus was his caseworker and decided to bring Maciejewski to live with him at Camp Oakland.

“I was fortunate. He took a liking to me,” Maciejewski said.

For the first two-and-a-half years, it was just the two of them living there as Matus was working to establish the organization.

Maciejewski spent a total of eight years on campus.

He has many fond memories of living there, from milking 30 cows every morning to Matus fixing him breakfast.

Maciejewski learned a lot about life from Matus, who spent 30 years as director. Most importantly, he learned to always be truthful, respectful and polite in his dealings with others.

“Bill Matus set me on the straight and narrow,” he said.

Maciejewski went on to have a productive 40-year career in engineering, two successful marriages and raise four children of his own.

He gives Matus all of the credit.

“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. “I owe everything to that man.”

“I thanked him many, many times, but he would never take the credit,” Maciejewski added. “He always said, ‘You did it on your own.’”

Maciejewski still refers to Matus, who passed away Nov. 17 at age 94, as “dad” and noted his children all called him “Grandpa Matus.”

“I loved that man, dearly. I loved him better than my own parents,” he said.

The campus is different than it was back in Maciejewski’s day, but to him, it still feels like home.

“This is a good place,” he said.

He firmly believes Crossroads President Marc Porter is “a good man” and the staff is continuing to honor Matus’ legacy by giving kids a second chance in a rural environment that’s meant to feel like a home, not an institution.

“There’s a lot of children around that need help,” Maciejewski said.

Maciejewski urged parents to hug, not hit, their kids and always let them know how much they mean to you.

“You’ve got to tell your children you love them,” he said.