Sun City resident Paul Culler has worked as an audio engineer in television for 40 years.
“I worked for a company that provided T.V. facilities for everyone. We designed, built, and rented T.V. facilities for the broadcast industry,” Culler said.
While it might seem like he has been outside of the spotlight, Culler’s position has truly been a leading role.
“I traveled from 240 to 260 days a year. I was going to retire after the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. But since the event was canceled, I just decided to retire,” he said.
From Pope John Paul II to Paul McCartney, Paul Culler’s career in audio engineering has covered it all…and today he has an Emmy for his work. (Photo by Christine Such/Sun Day)
Never before had the Olympic Games been postponed or canceled for something other than war, but rarely has the world come to a grinding halt the way it has over the novel coronavirus. The international multi-sport event is currently scheduled to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
What other events has he covered?
Culler said, “I have covered political conventions, presidential inaugurations, countless NFL games, NBA games, local White Sox and Cub’s games, concerts. But make no mistake about it, it was a job. It was very stressful. You are responsible for a feed that broadcasts worldwide.”
What was his favorite event?
“It was an event that was not the most difficult but most satisfying. I covered the historical moment when President Clinton met the Pope in St. Louis in 1999.”
On January 26, 1999, The President and Mrs. Clinton welcomed Pope John Paul II to America. The Pope shook hands with them briefly before turning his attention to the crowd. There, he blessed about 2,000 people.
Culler said, “I also was thrilled to work at Paul McCartney’s concerts. I was there when he performed at the music festival near Nashville. I am a huge fan. I took a moment to go out into the crowd of over 90000 people. There were individuals from 8 to 80 in the audience. The scene was similar to one in the ’60s when the Beatles first came to the States.”
Culler’s favorite person to cover is someone who worked more locally.
“I was introduced to Oprah once when she arrived at a set and she walked over to talk to the director with who I was having a conversation outside the studio. She shook my hand and thanked me for helping out. Six months later I was involved in an episode Oprah was airing on battered woman. She saw me and greeted me by name. She remembered me. That was incredible,” he said.
Culler started his career in Television Broadcasting doing audio for Rock and Roll Bands at age 17.
Culler said, “No one wanted to do audio. Their first choice was editing film or working the camera.”
Culler’s 40 years have resulted in recognition. He has won several Emmy Awards. Winning an Emmy Award is the culmination of hard work, dedication, passion, and talent, recognized by professional peers. It is a personal achievement that many strive for and few are awarded.
Culler said, “I have been associated with other Emmy awards, but my name is on this Emmy for the audio engineering work we did on the Girl’s Gymnastic event in the 2016 Olympic in Rio.”
Awards are given for Daytime Entertainment, News & Documentary, Community Service, Sports, and Technology & Engineering.
Culler said, “Covering the Olympics in Rio was not an easy process. Our semi-trailers for the event were shipped to Brazil. It took 10 days to set up the event. We had 10 days of programming and then we take down the equipment and it was shipped again.”
Culler is still deciding how to display his Emmy. The Emmy depicts a winged woman holding an atom. It was designed by television engineer Louis McManus, who used his wife as the model. The Emmy weighs six pounds twelve and a half ounces, and is made of copper, nickel, silver, and gold. Culler’s name is inscribed on the award.
According to Culler, you can’t be too careful with an award like that.
“I made a friend wear white gloves once when he wanted to hold it,” he said.
