Tommy Hoffman can’t tie his shoes. So what.

Rocking softly, he rattles off every host of “Family Feud” in less than two minutes. And that includes the dates on which they hosted.

He knows that the first game show wasn’t even on television but the radio in 1949. Now filter in that he can tell you the day of the week of your birth date.

He hasn’t missed a beat. He pushes back his glasses with one finger and quickly returns to the constant sway. It’s soothing and approachable.

There is no direct eye contact but he still manages to poke fun at his sister, Dawna Jones.

She affectionately compares him to Rain Man. Yet Dustin Hoffman’s autistic character in the 1988 movie wasn’t as personable.

Tommy has no ill-tempered quirks or irrational side effects of his condition, mild mental retardation. He is a happy-go-lucky 30-year-old with an optimist’s view of life and his place in it. He even slips some comic relief to the staff at United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Missouri, where he’s hosted his own game show for the past three years.

Tommy is a regular there. He’s been going to classes at UCP for about 12 years.

He’s always loved game shows, paying attention since he was a child. While he says he enjoys the reaction of the winners and the losers, one can’t help but wonder if the perpetual question-and-answer sessions are the trigger to his fascination. Tommy enjoys numbers, particularly dates.

He tries not to miss a show, spending an average of seven to eight hours a day watching his favorites. On the days he has to miss because of his classes at UCP or other activities, he catches up with his shows at night or on YouTube.

The Game Show Network offers much refuge to the game-show junkie.

From “Pyramid,” both the $25,000 and $100,000, he clarifies, to “Match Game,” there isn’t one he doesn’t know inside and out. Who knew there were encyclopedias for game show stats?

Tommy studies his beloved shows.

Many have tried to stump the St. Joseph man. No one has been successful.

During his testimonials at United Way campaigns with local employers, Tommy tells his story about how UCP has helped him. It’s during these sessions that St. Joseph gets to see his gift.

“The questions start off small,” said Glynda King, adult program director at UCP. “Then they up the ante.”

Ms. King said that Tommy has surpassed any limitation.

“Even though they may have a disability, don’t pass them by,” she said of Tommy and others.

Tommy and his sister have a fond memory of their late mother’s excitement over Tommy being “kicked out” of the Helen Davis School.

“They called her and told her he had too high of an IQ,” she laughed. “It was so cute. Mom was so happy he was too smart.”

And life went on.

Tommy attended St. Joseph Public Schools and graduated from Central High School. Today he lives with his father and is involved with the ministry at his church.

But it’s his love of game shows and his passion for people that brought him to write three books and host his own game show.

“He’s a role model to other peers and inspires them,” Ms. King said. “He gets you excited. That’s part of his charisma.”

Since 2007, Tommy has surveyed St. Joseph to get the answers for his own version of “Family Feud.” He organizes the event, start to finish. From recruiting contestants to set up and prizes. And then, for one day, Tommy lives out his fantasy of being a game-show host.

And his dreams are coming true this week. Tommy is flying to California to be in the audience for “The Price is Right” and “Wheel of Fortune.”

“I want to audition to be a contestant while I’m out there,” he said.

Many people outside of his friends at UCP found his story inspiring. Southwest Airlines donated the airfare, the Culver City Chamber of Commerce gave him a great deal at the Radisson Hotel and the United Independent Taxi Drivers organization stepped up to provide all the transportation for Tommy while in Los Angeles.

Jennifer Hall can be reached at jennhall@npgco.com.