He has been a pillar of his community, town council member, a Lions Club president, president of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the Violin Canyon Corporation.

He lives in a large house on a dirt road in the country near Castaic, California.   Confused motorists have often stopped and asked for directions, according to a commenter who claimed to be related.

It was about 10:30 on Sunday night when he answered the door.

From abc7.com:

"I opened the door and I said, 'What do you want?' Preach said, adding that the suspect then began mumbling. "So finally he goes, 'I want a $100 million,' and I said, 'well, you came to the wrong house pal.'"

When Preach denied him, the suspect allegedly punched him in the face. That punch escalated into a knockdown drag-out fight.

Preach had undergone back surgery three weeks before, and was not supposed to lift more than 10 pounds.   Memories of his high school football days kicked in, and he pinned his assailant to the floor and wall.

Then the effect of surgery, 45 years, and some intense combat set in.  After some minutes, he thought he could no longer hold 21 year old Salvador Medrano.   By this time, Preach's wife was calling 911, and their house guest, Larry Bensel, arrived to take over holding Medrano.   Bensel had undergone hernia surgery just days before.  While Bensell, 52, held Medrano, Preach got a shotgun and loaded one cartridge.   Bensell's stitches were torn out from the struggle.  With the loading of the shotgun, Medrano stopped struggling, but after deputies arrived a small time later, it took five of them to subdue him.