“I have a God given gift of voice. I am an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times. Please! Any help will be gratefully appreciated. Thank you and God bless.”
These were the words of, ex radio-announcer Ted Williams. Homeless after battling addiction and struggling to get by, Williams spent the last few years panhandling on the street of Columbus, Ohio. Little did he know, his world was about to change forever.
The Columbus Dispatch newspaper posted a video on Monday of Williams begging on the side of a road, using his radio emcee imitations, which has since attracted over 12 million viewers on YouTube. Not only that, but Williams has been flooded with media requests and job offers.
Since dubbed “The Man with the Golden Voice,” Williams has featured his talents on numerous national programs, such as NBC’s “Today Show” in New York and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”. The job offers have been pouring in all over the place, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese.
While it is inspiring to see a man who has gone through and survived so many personal struggles, finally get his chance to turn his life around, I think the most overlooked aspect of this rags to riches tale is that of the Columbus Dispatch photographer. After seeing this homeless man, day after day, with his sign claiming to be an ex-radio announcer, the photographer gave into his curiosity... and forever changed Williams’ life.
I think that this feel-good story reminds us that curiosity did NOT kill the cat… it’s given someone an opportunity of a lifetime. A lot of the time, the smallest gestures sometimes make the biggest impact. I hope that Mr. Williams, now two years sober, takes this second chance for all that it is worth and wish him great success.
Katy Fincham is an Associate Account Executive at Maroon PR. Contact her at Katy@MaroonPR.com
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