Flash Fiction Challenge – A Man with a Golden Voice
April 11, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story using the phrase “beggars can’t be choosers.” Go where the prompt leads!
Ted Williams had once made a career out of his voice as a radio announcer in the early 1980s. But then alcohol and drugs brought him down. In 1994, he was evicted from his house. During this period, he was arrested at least seven times on charges including theft, drug possession, escape, and robbery. He served three months jail sentence in 1990 for theft, and two months in 2004 for theft and obstructing official business.
On January 3, 2011, Doral Chenoweth, a videographer for the Columbus Dispatch in Columbus, Ohio, located Williams. He was standing next to traffic, holding a cardboard sign with a handwritten advertisement of his voice and a request for donations. Chenoweth recorded an interview with Williams who elaborated on his education and the problems that led to his homelessness. The video was reported to YouTube, and it went viral. His story gained attention on social media with users pledging money, clothes, and job offers.
Williams went through the rehabilitation and was declared sober after a year. In his book, A Golden Voice: How Faith, Hard Work, and Humility Brought Me from the Streets to Salvation, he reflects on his cocaine addiction and abandoning his children.
In January 2013 Williams said he was steadily employed as a commercial voice-over artist for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. He has also started the Ted Williams Project with Kraft, a non-profit foundation that provides necessities to homeless shelters.
In January 2016 he started co-hosting a radio show on Columbus’ “The Praise,” WVKO-AM, the same station where he began his radio career in the 1980s. The station’s general manager said they believed in giving second chances.
A Man with a Golden Voice
A man saw a homeless person begging. The beggar’s voice sounded familiar, but he had to move on with the traffic.
The next day he saw the beggar again.
“Are you Ted Williams, the man with a golden voice?”
“Yes.”
“Hop in… Why are you on the street?”
“I was fired in 1994 for drugs and booze.”
“You’ll clean up and come to the radio station to see my boss.”
~
For the first time after 20 years, the beggar had numerous job offers. He worked in the radio show again.
“Beggars can’t be choosers” didn’t apply to him.
~
Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge – A Man with a Golden Voice
The Showers of Blessings 
Pingback: Beggars Can’t Be Choosers « Carrot Ranch Literary Community
What a story to share and create into a flash fiction, Miriam! It makes me think that he still had hope. And look at how it turned around. But it takes a person to give a helping hand up.
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Yes, Charli. He waited for 3 more years to get help after he stopped drinking. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. I wonder how many homeless folks get help in a timing manner.
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I read this before but was offline and could not comment – I knew the story but had no idea of the details – and your Fiction was nice
🙂
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Yes, Yvette, this is such an amazing story. 🙂
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A beautiful share Miriam. There is still goodness in the world. 🙂
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Yes, it’s true, Debby. There’s an author from my “Publishing” group, she is committed to help the homeless. She always has extra blankets, food and water in her trunk. 🙂
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God bless her 🙂
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Yes, she still read with a recital voice. 🙂
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brilliant telling. I had heard about this gentleman in the news..
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Thank you Violet for reading and comment. Yes, this is an amazing story. It must be hard after he stopped drinking in 2008 until he got someone’s attention in 2011.
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Awesome and inspiring! Thank you, Miriam. 🙂 And, thank you again for your birthday blessings on Facebook. That was really sweet.
Love you and have a great week!!
Debbie
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Thank you so much for reading, Debbie. 🙂
I’m happy for your birthday. I like your new photos on your blog. I’ll be over to check it out, perhaps on Monday.
Love you, Miriam
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What a wonderful story. In my opinion, he was standing out there on the street begging to be heard once again. He might have hit rock bottom at the time, but he chose to do something about it. I love that he never gave up, especially since he still has so much to say. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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You’re very welcome, Sparkjen. 🙂 I heard the news and watched YouTube in 2011. But I didn’t follow up until now when I wrote this piece. He said he stopped drinking in 2008. He waited another 3 years before he got help. Yes, he didn’t give up. He wanted somebody to remember him from the message he wrote of the cardboard. I can’t imagine what it was like for his years of waiting!! 🙂
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I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that he was led to put his voice, and other talents to use while living rough. He was led to inspire others along his path. We may never know it, but I imagine because of his work, a few other people may have found their way again too!!! 🙂
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Your comment put goosebumps on me, Sparkjen. In the midst of a trial, I may ask, “how long?” But I know it’s going to be “as long as it takes” for my journey to have meaning to me and make it a blessing to others. 🙂
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Well…that was beautifully worded Miriam. Yes yes yes!👏🏾
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Yes, yes, yes also, Sparkjen! God has a purpose in us. 🙂
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✨
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❤ 🙂
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Oh wow! This is amazing and just really uplifting, Miriam! God is truly very gracious, and I personally know we are given second (and even third, fourth, etc.) chances. Thank you for sharing this! Truly “beggars can’t be choosers” does not apply to everyone, especially this man.
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Yes, Johnathan, it’s true that God gives us second and third and fourth and more chances. I also personally experienced many chances in my life journey and am grateful, even though I thought I didn’t deserved them.
Like the prodigal son, Ted was far strayed away but he was ready to return home. Apparently he stopped drinking in 2008 but was not “rescued” until 2011.
Thank you for your comment, Jonathan!
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And thank you again for sharing this wonderful story!
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You’re very welcome, Jonathan!
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Miriam, I really felt happy when I read the ending.
Quite a fairytale one at that.
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Thank you for reading, Miriam. I was really inspired when I first read the news and watched YouTube. It was an amazing true story. He was even united with his mother.
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very nice post Miriam! interesting to learn more!
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Thank you for reading, Carol. I believe in second and more chances!
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Me too😃
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❤ 🙂
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I did a post on this gentleman several years ago that you and your readers may find interesting. Its nice to read your post for an additional update. Thanks for sharing
https://reallifeofanmsw.com/2016/03/16/the-golden-voice-and-basic-needs-articles-of-a-career-journal/
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Thank you, Elizabeth. somehow WordPress caused my site to unfollow some blogs. I just followed you again.
Thank you for your comment and I’ll reading your post right away.
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I really like this, Miriam
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Thank you, Robbie. I believe in second chance also!
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