Timothy Blotz holds a master’s degree in strategic communications from the University of Minnesota in addition to holding the position of news anchor for the Fox owned television station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Timothy is a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award in writing, and multiple Emmy Awards for his work as a television anchor and journalist.
Timothy also served as a commuications advisor in the administration of former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Lt. Governor Diane Denish.
This blog serves as a collection of observations, views, and notebook scribblings on strategic communication issues, branding and topical news that either would have ended up in the trash can or have been a victim to a producer’s delete key.
Reflections and observations are independent of Timothy’s current employer 21st Century Fox.
Stand by... 
Thanks for being a great anchor and reporter. It is a pleasure watching. You should be the MAIN man!!!
Thanks for the kind note, Steve. I’m simply biding my time and waiting my turn, although it may never come at Fox 9. Best wishes to you always.
Hello Mr. Blotz,
I really enjoyed your article on the Doolittle bombers. The hangar where the aircraft were retrofitted is still standing and is now the main hangar for the 934th Airlift Wing.
I was wondering if you might know if there is a list anywhere of the workers who did the retrofitting? I ask because my grandfather built aircraft during WWII in Los Angeles and Kansas City. He talked about meeting Jimmy Doolittle after working on the B25s and had details about the aircraft only someone who worked on them would have known.
Thank you,
Chris Ruter
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the note and especially the information on the hangar at the 934th Airlift Wing.
Tragically, I’ve never been able to find an official list of crew members who worked on the planes. Mid-Continent Airlines has long since disappeared from the landscape. It merged with Braniff in the early 50’s and then Braniff itself folded in the 70’s. The guys at the NWA History Centre have been a great resource since many of the mechanics on the retrofit including my grandfather came from their ranks. But even they don’t have a manifest of the workers on the project. It’s easy to forget that this was all top secret at the time, not even the pilots knew what their planes were really being modified for. They flew into Minneapolis assuming they were getting extra fuel tanks for U-Boat patrols off the Carolinas. The secrecy is a point underscored by two new pictures I just acquired showing armed sentries standing next to the planes outside the Mid-Continent hangar. I just posted them this morning to my blog entire: https://timothyblotz.com/2012/04/13/the-doolittle-raid-on-tokyo-one-familys-untold-story/
Thanks again for the note.
-Tim
Hi Tim! Thanks for doing such a great job. We Minnesotans really appreciate it. I just wanted to apologize to you for calling you “Tom” instead of Time when we met at the State Capitol on Monday. You were very nice to me and my wife and took time out to speak with us despite calling you by the wrong name. You are a true gentleman. As soon as you walked away it hit me that I called you by the wrong name. Again, my deepest apologies. Keep up the great work.
Hi Tim, I worked at the upscale department store you and your little girls used to frequent in Appleton along with my buddy Andy who worked in men’s tailored (we would critique and advise you on your ties when you anchored in Green Bay Mr. GQ) and we made you look so good to!. Andy now lives in Idaho with his family. I left my position and went on to run the Domestic Abuse shelter during night shifts in Appleton. We sure enjoyed your visits to the store and seeing your girls. Looks like you went on to do amazing things. I am the grandmother of three, Lincoln, Vera and Eddison yet I hardly look the part. Take good and gentle care always and God bless you and your family…Connie Palm
Oh my, Connie. My apologies, your note slipped through the cracks and I’m just noticing it. Thank you for the kind memories. Those little girls who used to come to the store are now in college–still don’t know how that happened. We miss Green Bay and still have many, many friends there. Erin Davisson and I are still close and contact each other often. Thank you for the note and I hope you have a wonderful fall with your grandchildren.
-Tim