Jackson Polk

Jackson Polk is a documentary filmmaker, radio host, and passionate historian who has emerged as one of the leading voices dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history of the El Paso–Juárez border region. A native El Pasoan—where Polk Elementary School bears the name of his father, educator Hibbard Polk—he has devoted his second career to demonstrating that the region’s authentic past is more compelling than any Hollywood narrative.

Early Career and Media Background

Polk’s professional path began in broadcasting and national politics. As a teenager, he worked as a local disc jockey before relocating to Washington, D.C., at just 18 years old to serve on the staff of Congressman Richard C. White.

He later earned a degree in communications from American University and went on to spend seven years as a television news cameraman for a CBS affiliate in Washington. During this time, Polk documented pivotal moments in American history, including the release of the Pentagon Papers release at the Supreme Court and the historic transition of power following the resignation of Richard Nixon, capturing Gerald Ford’s acceptance speech upon assuming the presidency.

Return to El Paso and Historical Advocacy

In 1997, Polk returned to his hometown and redirected his focus toward heritage tourism and historical preservation. He founded EPHistory.com, a platform devoted to sharing the region’s unique and often underappreciated legacy.

Polk’s work is guided by a central belief: that El Paso’s history—from 5,000-year-old pit houses at Keystone Heritage Park to its reputation as one of the “wildest” towns of the Old West—represents a powerful and largely untapped cultural and economic resource.

The El Paso History Radio Show

A central pillar of Polk’s public impact has been his long association with The El Paso History Radio Show, a program with deep roots in the community. While its exact origins are unclear, an early incarnation aired in the 1990s under the guidance of Leon Metz, the widely respected historian who passed away in 2020.

Initially broadcast sporadically, the show gained consistency and momentum in 2001 when Polk joined Metz as co-host. Polk’s own early experience in radio—as a teenage disc jockey at KHEY—led to his connection with longtime morning host Charlie Russell, who recruited him to join Metz. Together, Polk and Metz co-hosted the program for a decade, building a loyal audience and helping elevate public interest in local history.

Reflecting on those formative years, Polk has noted:

“Most anything I heard was brand new to me. I grew up in El Paso, went to public school, and they never taught El Paso history, so I knew very little about what was going on in this town. I learned what I know basically sitting in that radio show.”

Following Metz’s departure in 2011, Melissa Sargent joined as co-host. With an interest in voiceover work and a connection to the historical community through her husband, Bernie Sargent, she helped continue the program’s tradition of engaging storytelling and historical exploration.

After nearly 21 years behind the microphone, Polk passed the torch to the next generation, handing hosting duties to his son, Andrew Polk, already a producer of the show and host of Talk El Paso and The El Paso Public Forum. Around the same time, Sargent stepped away from the program following her move to Conroe with her husband.

Key Contributions

Documentary Filmmaking: Polk has produced numerous historical documentaries, including Last Tour of the El Paso Smelter, and has played a vital role in projects that helped raise millions of dollars to preserve Keystone Heritage Park.

Radio Broadcasting: Through decades on The El Paso History Radio Show on News Talk 690 KTSM, Polk helped cultivate widespread interest in regional history.

The History Summit: Polk helped organize El Paso’s first history summits, collaborating with Destination El Paso to educate the hospitality industry on the region’s historical significance.

National Recognition: He appeared on the Decoded on the History Channel, discussing his involvement in the search for the missing U.S. Capitol cornerstone.

Personal Life

Polk is married to Wendy White Polk, editor of El Paso Inc. Their son, Andrew Polk, has continued the family’s media tradition as a reporter and broadcaster.

Through filmmaking, broadcasting, and public engagement, Jackson Polk remains a tireless advocate for heritage tourism, consistently championing the idea that El Paso needs no reinvention—its authentic history is its greatest attraction.