Photo Credits: WGEM

For years, Josh “Hooch” Houchins was more than a familiar voice in the Tri-State sports community.

He was a friend, a mentor, a broadcaster, and someone who made the people around him feel like they belonged.

“He was real and he was relatable,” said Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman, who worked with Houchins. “Josh never tried to be bigger than he was or bring attitude to the job. He simply loved what he did and it showed.”

Houchins, a Culver-Stockton College alumnus and longtime voice of WGEM SportsCenter, left a lasting mark on the local sports scene through his passion for sports broadcasting and the relationships he built with athletes, coaches, fellow broadcasters and fans.

For those who had the opportunity to work alongside him, his impact went far beyond what could be heard through a radio or television speaker.

That authenticity was one of the qualities that made Houchins stand out.

Schuckman said Houchins brought humor to both the workplace and the airwaves, but also understood when a moment called for seriousness.

“He could also be serious and understood the moment and what it needed,” Schuckman said.

Houchins’ ability to connect with people was not simply a result of his personality. He put in the preparation necessary to be successful.

“He put coaches and athletes at ease and made interviews with them fun, not only because he was jovial, but because he did his research, knew what he was talking about and used his knowledge of the teams and players to connect,” Schuckman said.

A Friendship that Started with Sports

Hunter Voth first met Houchins when Voth was a freshman in high school.

Houchins came to speak to Voth and his classmates about his life and experiences. What started as a school visit eventually developed into a close friendship.

“He was the best,” Voth said. “I got to know him my freshman year of high school when he came in and spoke to me and my classmates about his life story and then after that me and him became best friends.”

One of Voth’s favorite memories came roughly nine years ago, when Houchins invited him to the WGEM studio to co-host WGEM SportsCenter.

That experience gave Voth a firsthand look at Houchins doing what he loved.

“The best memory we had was 9 years ago when Hooch invited me to the WGEM Studio to be his Co-Host on WGEM SportsCenter, and from there on he just had a great personality,” Voth said.

For Voth, that experience represented more than simply appearing on a sports program. It was another example of Houchins opening a door for someone else and sharing his passion for broadcasting.

A Passion for Sports Broadcasting

Houchins’ journey from Culver-Stockton College to becoming a recognizable voice on WGEM SportsCenter reflected his love for sports and his determination to build a career in broadcasting.

Voth believes that passion was the driving force behind Houchins’ success.

“I feel like it was his love for sports,” Voth said.

That passion also became part of the example Houchins left behind for young broadcasters.

Voth said aspiring broadcasters can learn from Houchins’ knowledge of sports and the way he communicated about the games he covered.

Schuckman believes the lesson is even bigger.

“Anything is possible with determination and hard work,” Schuckman said. “That is his legacy.”

Houchins faced challenges throughout his life, including limitations connected to his disabilities. But according to Schuckman, those challenges never became an excuse for Houchins.

“He never used anything as a crutch,” Schuckman said. “He didn’t look for special treatment either.”

Instead, Houchins became part of the broadcasting community on his own terms.

“He was one of us, one of the guys, one of the brotherhood,” Schuckman said. “We didn’t see him as different. He didn’t see himself as different.”

That attitude helped him earn the respect of the people around him.

“Coaches and players gravitated to him because he was genuine,” Schuckman said.

A Legacy that Continues

The impact Houchins had on the Tri-State sports community cannot be measured simply by the number of games he covered or broadcasts he appeared on.

It can be seen in the people he encouraged, the friendships he created, and the young broadcasters who can look at his career as an example of what determination can accomplish.

Schuckman hopes future sports journalists remember the work Houchins put into becoming the best broadcaster he could be.

“He impacted everyone because he was kind, funny, and genuine,” Schuckman said. “He worked as hard as anyone I have ever worked with because he was committed to being the best he could be.”

That commitment required preparation and knowledge, Schuckman said, but it also required Houchins to develop his own voice.

“Josh was all of those things,” Schuckman said.

For Voth, remembering Houchins comes down to remembering the person he was and the things he loved.

“Just know how he lived his life and what he loved to do and just hold onto the memories,” Voth said.

Those memories are now part of Houchins’ lasting legacy.

From his time at Culver-Stockton College to his work in local sports media, Houchins used his voice to tell stories, celebrate athletes, and connect communities through sports.

But perhaps his greatest impact was not the voice people heard on the air.

It was the person behind it.

Josh “Hooch” Houchins showed that a love for sports, combined with hard work, preparation, determination, and authenticity, can leave a lasting impression on an entire community.

And for the people who knew him, his voice will continue to be remembered long after the broadcast ends.

Josh “Hooch” Houchins (1981-2017)