Just like Janet and Heidi, our local news did an interview with Butch's wife.Reporter: Anne Steffens, News 4
(KMOV) -- Butch Lockley and his wife Cindy have been married 17 years. They have three children -- Amanda, Josh and Andrea. She is a guidance counselor at the same middle school in Olney, Ill., where Butch is principal. News 4's Anne Steffens interviewed Cindy about Butch being a 'Survivor: Amazon' contestant.
Q: Tell us about Butch.
A: He's very nice, very caring, and very considerate. He's funny and he's great with kids. He's the best father and we just have an incredible time together. We have to work together so it had better be good. He's just one of those that makes it easy. He is an easy person to be around and he doesn't get too upset about much and so it's real easy. We never fight.
Q: What makes him unique to you?
A: His sense of humor. He has a great sense of humor, and how he takes care of us, and we take care of him. So it's just nice.
Q: Had he watched 'Survivor' before?
A: He has watched all the shows. 'Survivor' night is very, very important at our house and there are no interruptions for him. Probably didn't say it, but he might have thought 'Oh, that's a piece of cake. I could do that.' He had to believe he could do it.
Q: What made him want to try out for 'Survivor?'
A: From the very beginning of the show, when it first came on, the very first 'Survivor,' he's like, 'I could do that. I want to do that!' Then he decided he would make a tape, and that's how I got involved with it is trying to lead him in a way that I thought would be creative and be funny, and it would be fun to do. We kind of made it a family event, and our kids got involved in it, so it turned out to be a lot of fun just making the tapes.
Q: What did you say when he said he wanted to try out?
A: 'Oh, no. I can't believe you'd want to do this.' But he did. He had a dream. This is something he wanted to do, and he's one of those people that when he sets a goal, he goes for it, which I admire about him. So he stayed with it, and look where it got him. He loves to do things that are...he loves to hunt and fish and do things like that. So no, in a way I expected him to want to do that. He just really bought into the show, and I think you have to to be on a show like that.
Q: How did your kids react?
A: It brings you closer because you don't tell a lot of people what you're doing because it is somewhat secretive. So it does bring you closer as a family. You work on it together as a family, and you have to be supportive. You have to support him because that's what they want to do.
Q: Were you surprised that he was chosen?
A: Absolutely. When you think about the number...You know, we had an idea just from publicity how many people actually try for it, the idea that he was chosen was...you just almost had to pull yourself down from the air because you're so excited and so happy for him. You think, 'Pinch me. Is it really happening?' So I think he was just so excited about it all. He went over there very excited and really wanted to play the game and be a part of it, and I'm sure that's what he was.
Q: What is going to be his biggest challenge?
A: He hates snakes, so who knows? Really, this man hates snakes to the point to where he really hates them. It's going to be interesting. When I think of the Amazon, I think of snakes, and I think Butch...snakes...no, not good.
He's a very giving person and he puts other people first, and that would probably make it hard for him during this show, because I'm not sure that's exactly where that show is headed with personalities, so it's going to be a real conflict for him.
Q: What is his biggest asset?
A: He is such an up person. He is always motivated and he's always looking at the bright side of everything. He's a good person. They have someone there who was really excited about being there and I think they (the viewers) will be able to see what kind of person he is if they watch the show. I just think as they watch the show that they'll really find some things hopefully that they like about him.
Q: What if Butch hadn't been chosen?
A: We would have been making another tape and sending it in, I'm sure.
http://www.kmov.com/localnews/kmov_entertainment_030212_survivorbutch.360196c.html
"I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smelly" - Mr. Krabs