He reported for a station in Wichita before he hit it big. Though I don't remember him then, I have heard from some viewers who still do. He was the same great guy back then that he was when he hit it big. He didn't change. And that is amazing.
The sad thing about David Bloom is that I did not really follow him much before the war. I could not get enough of him then. It was so obvious he was such a good guy. Checking into his past confirmed what you are saying. He always was.