INDIANAPOLIS (January 30, 2008) — Things haven’t come easily to Patrick Henry Hughes. The 19-year-old was born without eyes and has been confined to a wheelchair since childhood. Despite these challenges, Patrick has excelled; today, he is majoring in Spanish at the University of Louisville and performs as a trumpeter in the marching band with his father, who wheels him through the band’s choreographed segments.

His remarkable story recently came to the attention of the ABC hit series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Through the efforts of the program and local volunteers, the Hughes family recently took possession of a new, highly automated 3,200-square-foot home built from the ground up in just 106 hours. And Klipsch was a part of it all, providing surround speakers for the Hughes family’s new home theater systems.

According to Phil Deddens, owner of Super Home Systems in Louisville, the project was one of the most comprehensive his firm has undertaken, requiring 15 people working eight hours each to install all of the major pre-wiring for the two home theatres, telephones and security systems. “We worked ahead of the electricians, installing the wiring in the rafters even before roofing was begun,” Deddens noted. The final home theater installation included Klipsch CDT-3650-C in-ceiling speakers and RW-5802 subwoofers.

The Klipsch architectural loudspeakers are part of a unique voice-operated system that allows Patrick to change channels on the flat-screen televisions, adjust the audio levels, open doors, get the time and temperature and even operate the security system through simple spoken commands.

In addition to the ABC series’ cast and crew, hundreds of laborers from the Louisville area worked around the clock to make the dream house a reality. Deddens’ schedule was particularly hectic: “Our crew of 15 worked alongside 30 electricians, 20 HVAC installers and two plumbers per bathroom. It was definitely a crazy day.”

A crowd of over 5,000 greeted the Hughes family at the unveiling of their home. Patrick was given a 3-D model so that he could “see” his new residence. The episode is slated to air on February 17.