When you hit age 60, what will you be doing?

Playing golf? Lounging at the beach?

Or will you be growing and developing your gifts and talents?

Bill Martinez, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, is very involved with the latter. At age 60, he was called back to radio to begin something new, purposeful and fulfilling. Today he is 65 and is heard live in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas every morning. In his current home state of Florida, his voice is heard in West Palm Beach and Titusville. Ever moving forward, Bill Martinez Live is carried in 260 markets on 40 radio stations.

Bill Martinez is no newbie to radio. In 1968 he worked toward a radio license and went live on a local Port Hueneme, California country music station covering the graveyard shift featuring Johnny Cash and other music legends of the time. That was before the market splintered—the “old days” Bill adds, “when you could open up a mike and reach half a million listeners.”

From 1970 to 1972, Bill hosted a radio talk show which he likened to Robin William’s big screen version, “Good Morning Vietnam!” for the Marine Corps where he was based. He also was the television host of a nightly cable news show for the base.

After a vocation in marketing, advertising, and running radio stations, Martinez returned to school, receiving a degree in Biblical theology, expecting to one day work in ministry.

One morning, a friend who hosted a Christian radio show called; he was in the emergency room, just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Bill was asked to fill in. After 30 years away from the mike, he was called back to his original work.

And he returned, utilizing his gifts, talents, experience, and Biblical knowledge—recognizing the hand of God at in his new vocation.

Bill Martinez is Hispanic, the third son of 10 children. His father, a civil servant was also a World War II veteran. His mother, a homemaker, is an immigrant from Mexico. Together they sent their children to church and Catholic school. “Until I became a senior in high school, the only thing I wanted to be was a priest,” Bill states. Raised conservatively, the former altar boy was schooled by nuns. Even today, the Holy Communion which is so reverenced by the Catholic Church is a part of the fabric of his life. To him, it is about proximity to God.

As a conservative Hispanic, radio marketers heard his broadcasts and that was the beginning of Bill Martinez Live. The show has grown, reaching markets on the air and digitally online.

Before each show, Bill prays, not that his will be done, but that God’s will be done. This is the foundation of Bill Martinez Live. The purpose is to confront the culture of modern society. “When we confront to connect, we connect others with God. What cries out of all of our souls is this: Why am I here? Why now?”

He means to encourage people, helping them connect with God’s purpose in their lives, which leads to fulfillment.

As a former adjunct professor at Cosa Mesa University, Bill taught fulfillment from a Biblical viewpoint:

“Fulfillment,” Bill relates, “leads to ultimate freedom.”

To reach fulfillment, in a Godly way, one must first, enjoy what work he or she is doing.

Second, he has to give it a fair chance and demonstrate competence.

Third, each person has gifts and talents which need to be grown and developed and expressed.

Very few people reach the potential they were placed here to develop. Even the government agrees.

“Several years ago, the U.S. Dept. of Labor reported that less than 10% of people reach these goals and are fulfilled in their life’s work.”

To help listeners understand what they are missing (fulfillment and freedom), Bill discusses politics, world events, culture, and faith from a Biblical worldview through movies and artists, many who are authors. He regularly features interviews with well-known writers and personalities.

“My show is about advancing the greater cause for our country and every American citizen by empowering our listeners with truth and knowledge that will affect the real change we all believe in, in ourselves, our families, neighborhoods, country and world. This may sound grand, but why not? It’s time for America to dream even bigger dreams. Are you in?”

“When we follow God and His way, ‘He will give you the desires of your heart.’”

At age 65 Bill Martinez is reinventing his life with God’s help. And he is excited about it. His life has purpose and meaning. He is fulfilled. He is free.

What are you doing with your life?

Bill Martinez is a resident of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Find Bill online at BillMartinezLive.com

HAVE A HERO TIP? Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon: kfjadon@gmail.com

Indiantown's Bob Howe: One Man Makes a Difference

In 1974, crop-duster Bob Howe flew his plane into a power line while flying low over fields. Miraculously, he and his plane came through unharmed.

In 2004, surgeons operated on Bob. Inside his abdomen the doctors found gangrene. Praying that day, he pleaded, “Please Lord either take me home now or give me ten more years.

Bob Howe has been a crop-duster for 46 years. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he grew up on a dairy farm. He purchased his own plane at age 14. His love for flying brought him to Indiantown, Florida where he and his wife, Paula, raised three sons. Today, Bob Howe is 69; he lives his life each day, with purpose—honoring God and helping others.

As a member of Treasure Coast Toastmasters in South Florida, he has put his competent communicator’s knowledge and his leadership skills to work within prison walls.

For 30 years, he has been involved in prison ministry. Currently, Bob facilitates the Toastmasters “Gavel Club” at the Florida State Prison in Pahokee. Of those who go through the Toastmasters program, 90 percent do not return to prison. Currently, the rate of recidivism being between 43 percent and 50 percent in Florida.

What makes the difference?

Ice Breakers sometimes run longer, at 15 minutes, as men tell what they did that put them behind bars.

Respect is key. The president is referred to as “Mr. President” at all times.

Bob takes time to talk with each man in the program, asking him, “What’s in your toolbox when you get out? A GED? A commercial driver’s license? The good Lord? If you don’t have the good Lord in your toolbox, you’ll be coming back.”

Most of the inmates are young men, between 20 and 40 years old and have little formal education. Mentally, Bob Howe helps prepare the men; he asks them, “What are you going to do when you leave prison?”

When a released inmate asks a potential employer for a job, he knows that he has a record. Bob encourages the men to tell the employer, “This is what I accomplished while in prison…” demonstrating positive change. He also speaks with the men about “giving back” by helping others who are in prison as Bob himself does.

Bob Howe, a true leader, is also unafraid to speak up for others:

One Sunday at his church, Bob saw a photo of children in Nicaragua, at a dump, eating out of the back of a garbage truck.

That picture turned Bob Howe’s heart toward those children.

It is estimated “that in some areas of Nicaragua, about 23 percent of children under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition.” (The World Food Program)

He has made 14 trips to the dumps of Nicaragua. With the help of others, he and a few other men from his church have fed over 300,000 children.

The dump is the resting place for dead animals, toxins, and chemicals. Poisonous fumes rise into the air.

Bob Howe states that because of hunger, children are dropped off at the dump to search for food while their parents go to work. Many live in the dump, unwanted and homeless.

Bob Howe has also helped a sick woman living in the dump named Ximora. She has received medical care and a small home has been built for her. In return, she is now the one feeding beans and rice to the homeless children.

Mr. Howe also helps needy children in his own town. Each year at Christmas, children are taken to Wal-Mart to shop. Some of these kids have never had any new clothing.

Recently, Bob Howe opened up a charitable organization “Loving God’s Abandoned Children,” which will be for needy children anywhere. Bob Howe is not rich, but he is a man of God, and the Lord has used him in many ways, because, he is willing.

This is the work of one man—in his spare time. Bob Howe has made a commitment to these ministries, and this is what has made them successful.

His work touches lives—lives that otherwise could have sunk into despair and death. His work has lowered the crime rate. He work has touched others in the name of the good Lord.

HAVE A HERO TIP? Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon: kfjadon@gmail.com

Hometown Heroes

Indiantown's Bob Howe: One Man Makes a Difference