On this episode of Amazing Arizonans, I talk with former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone. His law enforcement career spanned over 30 years. He was a police officer in Phoenix for 21 years. For seven of those years, he headed up the “Silent Witness” program, which encouraged witness to submit tips anonymously and help solve crimes.
In 2012, Penzone ran, but lost, to then Joe Arpaio for sheriff of Maricopa County. In 2016 he was elected to the first of two terms as Sheriff. He stepped down from the office in January of this year.
In this episode, we talk about Penzone’s career in law enforcement. He shared with me his successes and what he will miss about the job. But in this discussion, I learned a lot about the other aspects of his life. He talks about his faith and how it motivates him to serve the community in other ways and how it makes him strive to be a better person. We discuss the diverse ways he has served and the unique way he is serving now in his new position at Blue Cross Blue Shield.
It is always interesting to learn more about someone you know. I thought I knew Paul well. But I loved getting to learn about the civilian servant that he is now. Paul Penzone is a remarkably interesting man who has accomplished a lot in his life, and he’s not done yet.
Amazing Arizonans is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.
The podcast, which debuted in June 2023, has had more than 20 episodes spotlighting some of the best and brightest to come out of the Grand Canyon State.
Previous guests on the podcast include Jerry Colangelo, Michael Crow, Jan Brewer and Doug Ducey.
On this installment of Amazing Arizonans, I talk with Rick Romley. He’s a Marine Corps veteran and lifelong public servant, and longtime Republican political figure in Arizona. I met Romley in 2003 while he was Maricopa County Attorney. Today, he continues to serve his fellow veterans as a judge in Veterans Court.
You’ll hear Romley’s amazing story. He joined the Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam in 1968. He was seriously injured in combat and a few months later he lost his best friend during the war. That deep loss motivated him to serve the veteran community for decades. He talked about the creation of the Veterans Court and shared some examples of lives that were changed through this process. He shares how it is helping veterans stay out of the traditional courtrooms with early intervention and assistance from the VA. Among many other awards, he was named the Outstanding Disabled American Veteran of the year in 2001.
Romley served as Maricopa County Attorney for nearly two decades. He was first elected in 1988 and served through 2004. Then again served as interim for a few months in 2010. He believed victims’ rights should be protected and so he made that a priority in seeking and maintaining the office.
Rick is a good man who has served Arizona for a long time. I hope you enjoy the conversation.
Amazing Arizonans is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.
The podcast, which debuted in June 2023, has had more than 20 episodes spotlighting some of the best and brightest to come out of the Grand Canyon State.
Previous guests on the podcast include Jerry Colangelo, Michael Crow, Jan Brewer and Doug Ducey.
On this episode of Amazing Arizonans, I talk with one of the most prolific names in Arizona, Jerry Colangelo.
Talking about the history of the Phoenix Suns was incredible. His stories of how the Suns started were amazing. We talked about the biggest names in Suns history including the iconic voice of the Suns Al McCoy.
The story of the Arizona Diamondbacks and winning the World Series in 2001 was awesome. But how that team was built was such a great look behind the curtain.
He also tells us the role he played in naming another NBA franchise. I hope you love this conversation.
Amazing Arizonans is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.
This edition of Amazing Arizonans is a look back at 9/11. These are significant stories from people in Arizona who were connected directly to 9/11 and the days that followed. I hope that we never forget that day and how it changed our world. I hope these stories help keep that memory alive.
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In honor of 9/11 I talk with 2 men who were directly connected to Ground Zero in Manhattan.
Mike Angelone was an FDNY firefighter. He retired in 1993 and moved to Arizona where he became a successful contractor. He tells us about the lifelong friends he lost that day and what happened when he traveled to Ground Zero to help with the search and rescue.
Mike McAvoy is also from New York. His brother John was a firefighter who bravely ran into the World Trade Center that morning and gave his life serving his community. Mike’s best friend Jimmy was working in the Trade Center that day and also perished. Mike shares his memories of his brother and his best friend.
Both of these men endured incredible loss that day. This podcast is a tribute to all of the survivors. I hope America never forgets the tragedy of that day.
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On this edition of Amazing Arizonans I talk with CEO of the 100CLUB Angela Harrolle. We discuss the organization and what they do to support first responders and their families. She tells us about losing her husband in a line of duty accident and having to tell her young children. The fight that followed to make sure survivors stay insured. Angela is one the best people I know. Her life story is truly inspiring. I hope you enjoy this conversation!
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On this edition of Amazing Arizonans I sit down with a hero of mine, J. David Sloan plays a big role in my early days in Arizona. He was the owner of the iconic country bar in Phoenix Mr. Lucky’s. His band Western Bred has been a country music fixture for decades. We talk about how he came to own Mr. Lucky’s, his music career and the relationships he has built. This conversation is a great look at some Arizona music history. I hope you like it as much as I did.
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In this episode of Amazing Arizonans I sit down with FOX10 Anchor John Hook. He’s been in the Valley for over 20 years and remains one of the most popular and most recognizable faces in Valley media. His perspectives are thought provoking. His career is remarkable. I loved this conversation and I hope that you do too!
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I sit down with the President of Arizona State University Dr. Michael Crow and we talk about the incredible transformation of ASU under his leadership. I loved this conversation. I learned a lot from Dr. Crow. I hope you enjoy it too!
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On This edition of Amazing Arizonans I sit down with Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez. I met Gonzo in 2004. But like most of Arizona, I was a fan years before that. Of course we talked about his amazing career, including getting the game winning hit to beat the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series for the Diamondbacks. There is so much more to learn about Gonzo, he's dedicated to his family and his community. We talk about public service and how much he embraces being a mentor to this young Diamondbacks team.
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