EL PASO, Texas -- If you haven't yet heard of Gustus Bozarth, you likely will in the coming days. Here's a time line of our story on the man who may be the most famous homeless man in the country.
Late June: El Paso is named one of the least patriotic cities in the U.S. by Men's Health Magazine. KFOX covers the story.
July 1: KFOX's newest addition, Traffic Anchor Kandolite Flores, pitches a story from a friend. A storm a few days before had knocked down the flag pole outside of this friend's family business. However when employees came in the next day, they found the U.S. flag folded military-style. A check of the surveillance tape showed it was a homeless man seen in the area who had folded the flag. Kandolite says we can get the surveillance tape. Are we interested? You bet!
July 2: We know the key to the story is to find the man. Photojournalist Rudy Reyes is sent to the area to get the surveillance video as well as scour the area for our mystery man. He finds him!! Gustus Bozarth interviews with Rudy and the decision is made to hold the story until the 4th of July.
July 4: KFOX News at Nine's weekend anchor Daniel Novick writes the story and it airs, introducing our community to Gustus Bozarth and his flag-folding.
July 5: KFOX Morning News also airs the story of Gustus Bozarth. By now, a trickle of response has started from local people who want to help Gus. KFOX sends the story to CNN and Fox which then put it on their news feeds (this is the way stations across the country share stories.) At this point, we have no idea what's about to happen.
July 6: Other stations across the U.S. air the story and put it on their web sites. A big push comes from KVUE in Austin which links our story to yahoo.com. It's there that the uptick is definitely felt. Calls and emails begin to increase.
July: 7 KFOX is now inundated with emails and phone calls from around the country. People from Minnesota to Texas, California to Maine want to help Gustus Bozarth. It's overwhelming and we're left to ask: what's KFOX's role now?
We revisit Gustus Bozarth at his makeshift shanty to tell him what has happened. He's pleased but really has an "aw shucks" attitude about what he sees as a small gesture. KFOX runs a follow-up on this fast becoming famous homeless man. CNN and Fox continue to monitor the progress of the story and it airs on "Fox and Friends" as well as "Headline News."
A positive story in the news for a change.
