H. Ed Calahan, M.Ed., is Pastor of the Agape Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, where he has served faithfully for eleven years.  He retired April 30, 2004 from the State of Texas after 20 years of service.  During this period of time, Mr. Calahan held several directorships that brought about great change within the TDMHMR System. He is the former Director of the Office of Multicultural Services and was the Director of Community Systems Transition with the Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation System.

Through his leadership as the Director, State-Operated Community Services with the Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation System, all State-Operated Community Services were effectively transitioned from state control to local community MHMR centers creating seven new community MHMR centers and expanding ten existing community MHMR centers five years ahead of schedule in September, 2000.

As the Associate Deputy Commissioner for Program Operations and Implementation, he provided leadership, direction and executive management for program operations of all State MH Facilities. Mr. Calahan was the Associate Deputy Commissioner for Community MH Services, supervising contract negotiations with Community MH Providers and directing the monitoring efforts of the Assistant Deputy Commissioners for Community Services. 

Mr. Calahan began his career with TDMHMR in 1984 as an Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Mental Health Services responsible for Region I which covered all of West Texas.  Prior to joining the Department he had spent 10 years with the Austin-Travis County MHMR Center in various leadership roles, including Director of Mental Health Services.

He hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Sociology from Arkansas AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) and a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) Degree in Guidance and Counseling Psychology  from Prairie View A & M University of Prairie View, Texas. He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Air Force.  He is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including the 2005 Community Leadership Award.

Mr. Calahan is married to Roberta Calahan and they have two children; two grandchildren and twelve god-children.  He is currently volunteers as a facilitrainer for the Austin Police Departments concerning Perspectives on Profiling. He recently finished a special contract with the Austin-Travis County MHMR Center’s Pastoral Care Project and a volunteer interviewer for the Oral Boards with the Austin Fire Departments.  He currently serves as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.