Hometown Heroes is a weekly radio show honoring the men and women whose service and sacrifice have secured our freedom. Featuring interviews with veterans, primarily from the World War II generation, Hometown Heroes presents history through the perspectives of those who lived it. The program began on one station – KMJ in Fresno, CA – in 2007, and began syndication to other radio markets in 2013. Host Paul Loeffler travels the country as a sportscaster, employing the downtime on those assignments to connect with veterans from coast to coast. His experience has left him convinced of something you’ll hear him say frequently on the program:
“No matter where you live in this great country of ours, no matter how big or how small your hometown might be, there are stories there that should not go untold.”
ABOUT THE HOST
Husband, father, storyteller – in that order – are three roles that Paul Loeffler strives to fulfill. Speaking into one microphone or another since he was 12 years old, Paul relishes the opportunity to tell compelling stories, whether it’s describing an intense competition on radio or televison, helping an aging veteran dig into his historic past to educate the rest of us, or simply sharing from a grateful heart about his own journey.
The longtime radio play-by-play voice of the Fresno State Bulldogs, Paul has enjoyed describing the exploits of student-athletes like Aaron Judge, Paul George, and Derek Carr. He had the privilege of calling the 2008 College World Series before writing a book about the team that won it all – Underdogs to Wonderdogs.
National TV experience includes football, basketball, and baseball play-by-play on ESPN platforms, as well as the unique recurring role of providing expert analysis on ABC, ESPN, & Scripps network broadcasts of the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2006.
A decade in local television provided Paul the opportunity to branch off from sports into learning from men and women who wore a different uniform, and together won a crucial victory: America’s World War II veterans. Inspired by his grandfather, a decorated WWII doctor, Paul’s efforts began with an award-winning TV feature and continue with the syndicated radio program, Hometown Heroes. Weekly visits with veterans eventually led to the opportunity to help launch Central Valley Honor Flight, an all-volunteer organization that has transported nearly 1,800 veterans, free of charge, to their memorials in Washington, D.C.
Since 2005, Paul has interviewed an average of one World War II veteran per week, an effort that started on TV and continues with Hometown Heroes.
Paul once drew the scorn of Alex Trebek by responding “What is a basketball?” to a JEOPARDY! clue that clearly described a bowling ball, which may explain why so many jump shots fall short when he engages in regular full-court reminders that he’s not as young as he used to be.
Faith and family are the priorities Paul tries to maintain in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where he’s spent his entire life, save for four years at Syracuse University in Central New York. As a “living donor” of one of his kidneys, he encourages everyone to join the more than 145 million Americans who have added their names to the organ donor registry. Follow Paul on Twitter @P356Loeffler or e-mail him at paul@hometownheroesradio.com
For more on what inspired Paul to get involved in preserving veterans’ stories, watch the video below.
This story from Central Valley Magazine explains some of Paul’s background and his work with veterans
To learn a little more about Paul and his work with veterans, you can read this 2016 Doug Hoagland article from Central Valley Magazine, or watch Paul’s presentation at Hillsdale College in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Click the image to watch Paul Loeffler’s presentation at Hillsdale College.