Interview Done By Mike Wilkerson
MW: Please introduce yourself?
PB: Hi, my name is Ron “Papa Bear” Kirkpatrick. I am 31 years old, from Whittier “where the girls are prettier!” California.
MW: How did you get involved with Storage Hunters?
PB: In 2008 I was working for a Local Union doing industrial plumbing and pipefitting. Work got slow and I was laid off. During that period I needed to provide for my family. I heard that there was money to be made at storage auctions, so I took a risk and pooled what little money I had. As for the show I was emailed by our production company asking if I would be interested to be a part of a pilot about the crazy world of storage auctions and the rest is history.
MW: Had you always bought storage units?
PB: No, I’m a jack of all trades and a master of none. I’ve worked as a barber, union pipefitter, built koi ponds. In this economy you need to work when the work is good or you’re not going to survive.
MW: How was it the first day you did the show?
PB: Interesting, nervous, scary and profitable. I came upon a casket and some other gothic creepy Halloween probs.
MW: What was the coolest thing you found?
PB: I found a 1954 Chevrolet 5 window pickup truck and paid $500 for it!
MW: What was the most disappointing thing you found?
PB: When I paid $1200 for a unit filled with shredded documents.
MW: Give me a story from the show?
PB: Well a couple of seasons ago I got in a scuffle with Dustin Taylor after he got out bid by Brandon and lori. know you wanna talk about grabbin the bull by the horns. well lemme tell you the bear grabbed that bull by the horns that day!
MW: How is it being on the show with Lori and Brandon?
PB: They are great people and good friends. Sometimes it gets a little tense, but that’s the name of the auction game!
MW: How is it being on the show with Jessie?
PB: He is great people and good friends. Sometimes it gets a little tense, but that’s the name of the auction game!
MW: How is it being on the show with T-Money?
PB: He is great people and good friends. Sometimes it gets a little tense, but that’s the name of the auction game!
MW: How is it being on the show with Scott and Chrissy Tassone?
PB: They are great people and good friends. Sometimes it gets a little tense, but that’s the name of the auction game!
MW: How is it being on the show with Sean Kelly?
PB: He is great people and good friends. Sometimes it gets a little tense, but that’s the name of the auction game!
MW: What do you say to the people that say Storage Hunters is fake?
PB: Believe what you want. I’m there to provide for my family by out bidding and out smarting my fellow bidders.
MW: What else do you do?
PB: I’m a collector of anything vintage. From classic cars (I own a 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook, a 1954 Chevy truck and a 1965 Buick wild cat). I’m an avid fan of classic Ska/reggae, punk, hardcore, oldies, northern soul. Morrissey/the Smiths fanatic. I live a pro beard lifestyle. And all around party animal!
MW: What can we expect in 2013 from Papa Bear?
PB: Lots of action, lots of laughing and great T.V.!
MW: What would you like to say in closing?
PB: There’s not enough time to hate. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Our children are looking up to us. I would like to thank Tgroup productions for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Storage Hunters team. A big thank you to tru-TV. And thanks to you guys at Blastzone Online. I also want to dedicate this season of storage hunters to my lovely wife Virginia and my handsome son Andy Moz!
