His voice is synonymous with some of the greatest moments in NFL history, and while he's known primarily for calling football games, Mitch Holthus has also repeatedly spoken up for the real heroes in our community.
Born on post at Fort Lewis, Washington as the son of a U.S. Army field artillery officer, Holthus, who has served in his capacity as "Voice of the Chiefs" since 1994, has shown a dedication to honoring our nation's Armed Forces throughout his career.
Holthus' role has provided a platform that's enabled him to visit numerous military instillations throughout the region, the opportunity to recognize Gold Star families in the Kansas City area, and also to spend his personal time as an advocate for "The Battle Within," an organization dedicated to providing veterans and first responders with the mental and behavioral health support they need.
It's for all of those reasons that Holthus was named the Chiefs' 2024 "Salute to Service" nominee this month in recognition of his tireless efforts spent recognizing those who keep our nation safe.
"I was blown away," said Holthus. "I got very emotional when I learned of getting the nomination just because I know what the award means and what it represents."
Holthus' family has deep ties to our military, as his father, brother, nephew and sister-in-law each served on active duty in the U.S. Army. His father, in particular – ElDean Holthus – was stationed everywhere from Texas to Alaska during his time in the service.
His father's time in the Army instilled a deep respect in Holthus for our nation's Armed Forces, and it's something he's continued to champion in his role with the Chiefs.
"I have so many friends that are dear to me that are either currently serving or have served, and that just keeps me not only interested, but feeling the responsibility of trying to do something," Holthus said. "I can use this role as the Voice of the Chiefs to not only tell a story, but to lift those up who serve our country while hopefully inspiring others to serve."
His most profound work may be with local veterans, however, as Holthus – while largely behind-the-scenes – has been a major advocate for the incredible work being done by the "The Battle Within."
"A lot of military folks deal with some of the real challenges presented by PTSD, and The Battle Within offers a very, very intense intervention kind of program," Holthus said. "It reminds me so much of the sacrifices that are made by the women and men who serve that we take for granted."
Holthus has also demonstrated that dedication through his work with the Fifth Engineer Battalion at nearby Fort Leonard Wood. In 2008, he offered words of comfort to the entire battalion the night before their third deployment to Iraq. He then returned to help the "Fighting Fifth" after their deployment as they dealt with an alarming increase in suicides within the unit.
It's simply a way of life for Holthus, whose iconic voice and fervent passion for the Chiefs is woven into the fabric of the franchise. His actions and priorities reflect the commitment the Chiefs have made to honoring our nation's heroes throughout the decades, and it's for that reason that there's no better representative for the league's "Salute to Service" mission than the Voice of the Chiefs.
"I feel like lifting up our military is part of the responsibility of what I do, and what we do as a franchise, because people will pay attention to the Chiefs," Holthus said. "They'll pay attention if we prioritize something."
To vote for Holthus to be selected as the NFL's "Salute to Service" honoree," click here.
