Interview With An Okie - Troy Dunn, The Locator

Troy Dunn

Photo courtesy WEtv.com

I love the show, The Locator. I'm a family historian searching for my roots so I knew this show was for me. Then I find out that Troy Dunn graduated from Enid High School, well I love it even more, so much that I blogged about it back in March to let everyone know about the beginning of the 2nd season. The Locator's 3rd season begins Saturday, Sept. 12th at 8:00 pm. (central) and because I had blogged about the show I received an email from Katrina who works on the show. WEtv is scheduling a telephone conference with "a few key online voices" for a chat with Troy.

We had our chat this morning. It was me, Erika at Scrapbook Obsession http://scrapbookobsession.wordpress.com/ , Gina at The Clan McLeod http://dewgin.blogspot.com/ and the man himself, Troy Dunn. Oh, Katrina was on the line too. We all had to have two questions prepared and if there was time we could ask more.

Erika goes first. She asked very good questions about scrap booking and photos. Troy said how important it is to do scrapbooks for keeping memories alive. Photos are key and that he uses them to help transition the reunion. For instance if a parent has been separated from a child since they were a baby the parent still sees the child as a baby. He can show them a photo of how they look as an adult and it helps the reunion process. This was Erika and Troy's conversation so please go to her site for her intake.

Now at this point my son has had enough and he keeps asking, is that grandma? I shake my head no, is that grandma? I shake my head no, I want to talk to grandma.

Gina is next. Again great questions. One was about the amount of time Troy spends on a case. He said the shortest time was 6 1/2 minutes. The longest case that was solved was 8 years. Gina ask if Troy's job has brought him closer to his own family. My son starts yelling at this point and all I hear is that every person he has worked with feels like family. Please go Gina's site for a more eloquent version.

Okay, its my turn. Katrina lets him know I'm from Oklahoma.

Troy: Oklahoma! Where are you located?

Me: Near Okemah, the home of Woody Guthrie

Troy: Oh, yeah Woody Guthrie

I told him about my blog and about the fact that I have Dunn relatives he said that we might be related. He said his family is around the Pawnee area now. They had been in and around Talequah.

Me: I know you graduated from Enid H.S. were you born in Oklahoma (this is my first prepared question)

Troy: No, I was born in Topeka, KS. My dad's family is from Oklahoma and that's why we moved back which I'm glad because that's where my wife is from, Enid.

Me: Oh, she's an Okie too

Troy: Yes, her family goes back generations.

I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand because I knew that. I even blogged about his wife being from Oklahoma. Then I wander for a second. I want to know who his wife's people are, I bet they were in the Land Run. There's no time, stay focused.

My next prepared question:

Me: I cry every time I watch your show

Troy: Me, too

Me: Has there ever been a story that got to you emotionally and you thought I can't do this anymore?

Troy: Yes, every month for the last 17 years.

My beautiful son starts yelling at this point to get my attention I apologize and Troy says, "that's okay I have kids."

I think Troy said something about how supportive his wife is and there are times when he comes home and sits down and his wife just knows he was working on a tough case.

Then I sneaked a 3rd question.

Me: I love your mom

Troy: Me, too

Me: Are you ever going to feature your mom's story on the show?

Troy: That's a very good question. I don't know, it doesn't have a happy ending.

Then everyone got to ask one last question, but I didn't hear any of them.

My son was yelling and the more I "shh" him the louder he got. I went out on the back porch and he follows me. Then it finally occurs to me to my thumb over the receiver.

Then it's my turn:

Me: Have you ever been in a situation where you felt uneasy?

Troy: Pause

Me: Fearful?

Troy: You know I rely on my gut feeling. I rely on my wife and my mom. You know that woman's intuition.

At this point my son has thrown my notebook out in the yard. I hear my daughter yell, "Sissy's in the house", I had to bite my tongue so I wouldn't yell, "get that coonhound out of the house".

Then I see a pink cowgirl hat in the mud which would result in tears if I didn't act quickly.

So I think Troy said: You know a lot of the cases involved abuse and you don't want to put someone back in that situation.

I think at some point I did yell at my kids, "y'all be quiet I'm trying to talk on the phone". You know like when you are trying to tell a Bible story and you yell at your kids, "stop fighting so we can talk about Jesus".

I did tell Troy about a Dunn cousin who found my website. She had been kidnapped as a baby by her father and was not reunited with her mother until shortly before her mother died. Her mother had given her the family bible. He said how important a family bible can be, just the little lines in the front of a bible can provide so much information.

Then Troy graciously thanked everyone and told us how much he appreciates us (mommy bloggers) for getting the word out about the show.

I get off the phone and this is what I see sitting on my new chair,

She knows she is in trouble she wouldn't even look at the camera.

This was a great experience. Troy is a very gentle and fair man. It is very clear that he is doing what God put him on this earth to do. Please watch his show, The Locator. You will be blessed.

Love,

Territory Mom

http://www.wetv.com/the-locator/ P.S. Remember God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. I never would have thought I would get to talk to The Locator. We never know what God is up to. Thank you, Lord.