Price is right for Nellis Airman

Airman, Sept, 2004 by Julie Ray

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- After watching the "Price is Right" game show faithfully for years, Senior Airman Roger Thomas was invited to "come on down" for his chance to bid in contestants' row.

The information manager at Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron's Detachment 8 signed up for the show through the information tickets and travel office. With his service dress uniform, he headed to California for the dream of a lifetime.

"It has been my dream to be on a game show," he said. "I went because I've watched the show for years, and I thought maybe I'd have a chance to win something."

He stood in line with other potential contestants for what he said seemed like hours trying to attract the show's producer for a chance to bid on prizes.

"It was crazy, but well worth the wait," he said.

Halfway through the show, Airman Thomas was called up as a contestant. Two incorrect bids kept him on contestants' row, but after the third bid on a dishwasher, host Bob Barker told him he won.

He then played a game called "That's too much," where he said, "I didn't do well." However, when it was his turn to spin the wheel, he landed the arrow on $1. That put him in the showcase showdown.

The showcase prize he bid on was two motorcycles, a dinette set, platinum china and a home-alarm system.

"The Lord told me to bid $19,500," he said. "The audience roared because they thought I underbid. The actual price of my showcase was $20,000, and I won."

Airman Thomas said his win couldn't have come at a better time since he had just gone through some hardships and was planning on getting married.

"I was praying to God to please show me a miracle. It was a blessing for me to win the showcase."

Julie Ray

Air Warfare Center Public Affairs