Meet Orlando Medellin – Kiss Country’s Latest Caught in the Act Award Recipient

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Each week, Gary and Bristol shine the light on one of our local residents who help to make Kiss Country the greatest place in the world to live, and this week, our recipient is Orlando Medellin. When I saw this week's nomination letter, which was submitted by Trey Powell, I just knew we had to get in contact with him. Just take a look at his nomination:

Orlando is the head coach of the boys Bossier High School soccer team. If that wasn’t enough, he is also the head coach for the 2010 boys and 2010 girls Elite Futbal club which travels 2 weekends a month to Dallas and the surrounding areas to play. Soccer is still a growing sport in the area, but he has already made a lasting impression in the community. And while he is an excellent technical coach and all his teams do well, that‘s not why I’m writing this. It’s what he does off the field that impresses me the most. I’ve played sports my entire life and have had some great coaches, but I have never seen a man and his wife do so much for the players. A lot of his high school players are Mexican or Central American immigrants who can barely speak English. When they arrive at his school, many have very little means, even feed themselves. Some don’t even have families with them. All of his players know that they can call, and he will help them at the drop of a hat. Whether it be by feeding them, getting them jobs, getting them clothes, loaning them money from his own pocket to pay bills until they get paid, helping them find housing, or even letting them stay at his house with his family, he’s there. I have personally seen him give his own belt to one of his players who did not one. I have seen him drive to New Orleans to speak at an immigration hearing on behalf of one of his high school players on Friday to then drive all night to be at a travel soccer game for his younger kids in Dallas Saturday morning. And all he asks of his players is to remember that when they get in a position to help someone, they do the same. What is even more crazy is that he is not even a teacher. He left his job making way more money to come back and help his community as a teacher's aide. He even cuts the grass on the practice field during the spring and summer months. I don’t know how he finds the time, but the community could definitely learn by his example. I know I have.

Thank you for being so amazing, Orlando! And because you've been "Caught in the Act," the gang at Silver Star has a $100 gift certificate for you!

Take a listen to the phone call we made to Orlando to let him know that he was this week's Kiss Country Caught in the Act Award recipient.