10 Questions for Montel WIlliams

It isn't always the big events that make us turn our head when we hear about politicians, celebrities and athletes.

Sometimes, we just want to know that when you boil it down, they're all ordinary people like us.

What's in their fridge? What are they reading? What do they do in their off time? ABC15.com is asking the same 10 questions of a newsmaker. But don't jump to any conclusions; these aren't the typical interview questions.

They are not meant to be probing or controversial. Instead, they're fun questions that let you get to know the person in ways you probably don't already.

Montel Williams is best known as host of the Emmy-award winning "The Montel Williams Show" and more recently as a spokesperson for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). Williams is also active with the non-profit MS Foundation, which he founded after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the late 1990s.

In 1996, Williams received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show and "The Montel Williams Show" was nominated for Outstanding Talk Show in 2001 and 2002.

But perhaps it's what Williams is least known for that is most impressive.

On July 3, 1956, Williams enlisted in the U.S. Marines upon graduating high school in 1974. After basic training, he was accepted to the Naval Academy Preparatory school at Newport, Rhode Island. He completed the one-year course, and was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

When he arrived at Annapolis on July 6, 1976, he was honorably discharged as a corporal from the marines, and enlisted into the navy as a midshipman. While at Annapolis, Williams studied Mandarin Chinese and graduated with a degree in general engineering and a minor in International Security Affairs.

Upon his graduation in 1980, he became the first African-American enlisted Marine to complete and graduate both the Academy Prep School and Annapolis.

In 1999, Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In the following year, he created the Montel William MS Foundation , which focuses on research and education. Williams has openly stated that he uses medical marijuana, stating it helps to ease his Multiple Sclerosis-caused neuropathic pain. Williams has become a vocal advocate of marijuana, supporting efforts to pass medical marijuana laws in states, as well as calling for full legalization.

In early November, Williams was in Scottsdale to launch his endorsement of "A Soldiers Smile" . The charity, in cooperation with the Association of Cosmetic Aesthetics (ACE), provides free and discount dental services to U.S. troops.

Williams spends a lot of time traveling abroad to talk to our soldiers serving in the Middle East. He prides himself on giving back and serving his community.

Learn what this father, actor, author and radio talk show host would like be if he could have a different career.

10 Questions for Montel Williams:

1. What is your all-time favorite movie or song?

Glory

2. Do you have a Smartphone? If so, what's your favorite app?

I have an iPhone and my favorite app is poker by Zynga.

3. Have you come up with a few things you'd like to do before you die? If so, what's on your bucket list?

Forget about dying, but I'd like to snow board the Himalayas.

4. Who do you count as your mentor(s)?

I've never had a mentor

5. What was your very first job?

Cook

6. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

To be taller

7. What do you consider your greatest success?

I haven't had one yet

8. Tell us something about you most people don't know?

I have tattoos

9. If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?

Nelson Mandela, Ghandi & Moses

10. If you could have a different career, other then what you're doing now, what would it be?

President of the United States