Second Chance for "Golden-Voiced" Homeless Man?

Get ready to start hearing about Ted Williams - not the baseball player but the "golden voiced" homeless man about to get a second chance in Columbus, Ohio.

Williams, a panhandler near Interstate 71, solicits donations with a sign saying that he's an ex-radio announcer with a "god-given gift" who has fallen on hard times.

A reporter from the Columbus Dispatch spoke to him and the result was an amazing video in which Williams demonstrates his soothing croon and explains how he went from a successful career to panhandling.

Watch the video below.

Williams describes meeting a radio announcer at age 14 who told him that radio is "theater of mind."

"I just said, well, hey. I can't be an actor, I can't be an on-air personality, but the voice just became something of a development over the years and I went to school for it," Williams says. "And then alcohol and drugs and a few other things became a part of my life. I've got two years clean, and I'm trying hard to get it back. And hopefully somebody from one of these television or radio stations will say, 'hey, I need a voice-over,' or ' I need something.'"

The story doesn't end there. The clip is gaining traction on YouTube and commenters have already begun offering Williams possible job opportunities in Columbus.

And a local morning radio show - Dave and Jimmy on Clear Channel-owned WNCI - will be interviewing Williams Wednesday and has hinted it might offer him work.

"We're going to find some way to help this guy!" the morning duo proclaims on the show's Facebook page.

[Scimajor]

42 "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring the bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie."

J.R.R. Tokien - not sure what page

See, I can quote fiction also.

[saidria]

Finally,Finally,Finally a feelgood story.It is so refreshing to hear something good and positive happen to people in this world. Mr Williams is getting a second chance,and I hope he takes advantage of every opportunity possible,and enjoys it ,and enjoys sharing his gift.
This sounds like 2011 is going to be a great year,hopefully for everyone. Congrats Mr Williams,I WISH YOU ALL THE SUCCESS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KiTTyBang]

Yay! I applaud him! I know many homeless people. They're people that are heavily discriminated against every moment of their lives. I cried in joy when I first watched him! And that voice, God blessed him that's for sure! Ted will be doing just fine now!

[saidria]

I agree. Everyone's lives,circumstances are all different.It's always been so easy to judge people who aren't a certain,instead of embracing them because they are different;if we were all the same,chances are we could be homeless too.There is so much hidden talent,"{Diamonds in the rough",and this is a prime example,you never know where the next star could be found!!! Again,congrats Mr. Williams,you are genuine!!!!!!!!!!!

[oldbasicgal]

This is a great story, and I wish Ted well. Stay clean and keep talking. I love your voice!

[irishfretter]

Anyone else catch that?

[irishfretter]

I think Ted Williams did the CBS intro.

[JennyS123]

Watch the EXCLUSIVE Interview now as Ted speaks to Dave and Jimmy of WNCI in Columbus. Watch as Ted recounts his alcohol & drug addiction, homelessness, his family, where he got to where he is today and how he feels about being an overnight success. WNCI has the full interview now available for viewing on their site:

http://wnci.com/cc-common/news/sections/entertainmentarticle.html?feed=104665&article=8005984&cmp=wnic_goldenvoiceted

[aschuler3]

The Sheep and the Goats
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

MATTHEW 25:31-46

[Scimajor]

42 "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring the bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie."

J.R.R. Tokien - not sure what page

See, I can quote fiction also.

[tedsaur]

I volunteer at a homeless shelter and there are dozens of guys there with great talent and mad skills. Too bad society won't give them a break just because they made mistakes in life. There is a pianist who made his living in church music. When he plays at the shelter, 160 men become mesmerized. Being a convicted felon, no church will hire him. Go figure, church-christian-forgiveness.

[pwgrant]

I wonder how'd you feel a convicted felon was working near you child at work. Christian forgiveness does not mean there should be no consequences.

[cwynns]

He's a convicted felon, theft & forgery..not a child molester! Even so, Christ is there for the child molesters, too, if they will fully accept Him, and turn from their wicked ways!
It seems Ted has done this, and God has blessed him abundantly! He acknowleges God, and he even testified that was lacking in his past life!

God bless Tim Williams, and may his life stand as a shining example that God is able!

[myoho123]

Good for him. So many personalities have found their niche through Youtube, and Ted, the erstwhile Brooklynite is finding his. Indeed his voice is as mellow as a marshmallow, and radio will be a lot better for it. Or take it a notch higher--big time television, here we come!