ANNOUNCER DEAN HILL

What a long, strange trip it's been for the host and play-by-play announcer of OVW on television. Dean's first career after graduating high school was with the Louisville Police Department, where he became the city's first K-9 officer and a SWAT team member. He was presented with the Class A mayor's award among some ten or so awards he received as a law enforcement official. Dean retired just a few years ago after 25 years on the police force, and has pursued very diverse interests.

One of Dean's duties as an officer was to work security at the wrestling matches at the Louisville Gardens . In 1988, needing a ring announcer and recognizing Dean's booming voice and striking figure in a suit, the promoters asked him to fill the spot. When OVW first went on television, there was no other choice but to make Louisville 's own voice of wrestling the host.

Dean's other interests include playing music professionally, and raising Appaloosa horses on his farm south of Louisville.