Michael Wilmoth and Bryan Wilmoth
Bryan Wilmoth (right) and his seven younger siblings were raised in a strict, religious household. When Bryan’s father found a love letter from a man in his box of things, he drove him into the countryside and dropped him off in the middle of the night with a five dollar bill.
Over the years, all of Bryan’s siblings either ran away from or were kicked out of their family home. He made efforts to reconnect with them, but many were initially resistant, so it took a long time for their relationships to grow.
At StoryCorps, Bryan and his brother Michael (left) recall how their family grew close.
Click here to watch “A Good Man,” a StoryCorps animation of Bryan and Michael’s conversation.
Originally aired January 25, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Above: The Wilmoth siblings at Bryan and Michael’s sister’s wedding in June 2007. From left: Jude, Mike, Pam, Bryan, Amy, Curtis (groom), Chris, Luke-Henry, and Josh.
Graham Haggett and Shelli Wright
The last picture 11-year-old Graham Haggett’s grandmother Sandra Lee Wright ever saw was of him.
When Sandra, 57, arrived at her job on the morning of September 11, 2001, waiting for her in her email was a photo (at left) of 10-week-old Graham sent by her daughter, Shelli Wright (pictured above). Her response, “So cute! I’m going to steal that baby.”
Sandra, the facilities manager for Aon Corporation, 
had an office located in the World Trade Center’s South Tower. She, along with 175 of her colleagues, were killed on the morning of the attacks.
Graham, (pictured above and at left with Lammy, a gift from Sandra), came to StoryCorps with his mother Shelli, 41, to remember the grandmother he never got to know.
Originally aired September 7, 2012, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Photos courtesy of Shelli Wright.
Karen Slade, Eric “Rico” Reed and Arthur “Sonny” Williams
In 1992, four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted of assaulting Rodney King whose March 1991 beating at the hands of police was captured on video. The news sparked unrest in the city, and no neighborhood was hit harder than South Central Los Angeles.
KJLH, an urban R&B station located on Crenshaw Boulevard, was in the center of it all. General Manager Karen Slade, DJ Eric “Rico” Reed, and KJLH’s driver Arthur “Sonny” Williams remember what happened during those days.
KJLH later won a Peabody award for its coverage of the riots.
Originally aired April 13, 2012 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Top photo: An auto parts store burns out of control in Los Angeles, April 30, 1992. Numerous fires were set and stores were looted after the Rodney King beating trial verdict. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
Bottom photo: Karen Slade, Eric “Rico” Reed, and Arthur “Sonny” Williams.
Blanca Alvarez y Connie Alvarez
Blanca Alvarez le cuenta a su hija Connie Alvarez sobre el día en que cruzó la frontera sin documentos para llegar a los Estados Unidos desde México.
Paul Crowley and Dreamer
Many veterans seek out the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital in hopes of feeling better. Thanks to Dreamer (R) those veterans often end up looking better, too.
Since the 1970s, Dreamer, a veteran himself, has been giving free haircuts to vets.
He can be found in a red, white, and blue painted trailer parked at the VA, where he averages about 200 haircuts a month.
In 2011, Paul Crowley (L) showed up looking for a trim. Today, he’s Dreamer’s assistant.
At StoryCorps, the pair sat down to speak about their friendship.
Originally aired February 24, 2012, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
René Foreman and her daughter Michelle
In 1999, René Foreman was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She underwent surgery that saved her life but also took her voice.
Today, René speaks using an electrolarynx–a small device that produces an electronic voice when she holds it against her throat.
René sat down for an interview with her daughter Michelle.
Robert Patterson and Karen Patterson
Bob Patterson worked as an aerospace engineer for over 30 years. In 2008, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. His wife, Karen, has been by his side all along. In this conversation, Bob tells her how living with the disease has affected him.
Originally aired August 27, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Carlos Mosqueda and his daughter Cindy
Carlos Mosqueda tells his daughter, Cindy, about how his father healed people in their East Los Angeles home.
Seniesa Estrada and Joe Estrada
17-year-old amateur boxing champion Seniesa Estrada talks to her father and coach, Joe Estrada, about how she got started in the sport.
Watch a video of one of Seniesa’s fights here. Read more about the Estradas in this LA Times article.
Originally aired April 2, 2010 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Charles Jackson
Charles Jackson remembers the day he and his brother were told their mother had Alzheimer’s disease, and how he then became her caregiver. At 50, Charles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and he discusses the toll that has taken on his family.
Originally aired November 30, 2007, on NPR’s Morning Edition.