Sailor Wins Big on Game Show - David A. Colquitt - Brief Article

All Hands, Feb, 2001 by Diann Paternoster

Electronics Technician 3rd Class David A. Colquitt wanted to be a millionaire -- or at least a quarter of a millionaire.

In just a short time, Colquitt, an Indianapolis native, and his family found themselves with an extra quarter million dollars to spend. It all happened when a USS Ogden (LPD 5) Sailor decided to try out for the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

Colquitt heard about the show from friends and thought, "Hey, this is something I can do."

With that thought in mind, he called the 1-800 number at the end of September to try out for the show. After answering a series of multiple-choice questions, he got a return phone call saying he had been selected to participate on the program.

About a month later, Colquitt and his wife headed to New York City for taping. The show paid for travel, accommodations and meals while there, making the trip totally stress-free for the couple. When the day came for the recording, Colquitt was excited.

"I walked into the studio for the rehearsal and my first impression was, 'Wow, I'm here. I'm doing it,'" Colquitt recalled. "It was just mind-boggling that I had actually pulled this off; that I had actually done it, that I was going to make an idiot of myself on national television."

Exceeding his own expectations, Colquitt made an impression from the start of the taping. Qualifying to get into the "hot seat" meant having to be the first person to answer a multiple-choice question correctly. Colquitt felt secure in his ability to answer that, but was very surprised when his name popped up as the first one finished.

"My jaw dropped when I qualified for the hot seat," Colquitt said. "I didn't know what to expect then. I've seen people get knocked out with an off-the-wall question at $100."

He was even more surprised when the star-host of the show, Regis Philbin, informed him he had made $32,000 and still had his lifelines left. A phone call to a friend, removal of two wrong answers (50/50) and polling the audience are the three "one-time-use" lifelines given to contestants to assist them with winning.

At the $250,000 mark he had a 50/50 lifeline left and a question about the birth name of Mother Theresa. Once half the answers were knocked out, he guessed between the last two by using an old rating exam maxim: "When in doubt, Charlie' out" (meaning he picked "C"). The tactic worked (though it's not recommended during regular rating exams).

Before the show, Colquitt promised himself that after reaching the $32,000 mark, if he had no lifelines left for the "big money" questions, he would walk away. He kept his promise. Colquitt walked away $250,000 richer.

Arriving back in San Diego, Colquitt first had an opportunity to see his shipmates at a Halloween party for the ship. People knew he'd been on the show, but didn't know how well he had done. Immediately upon walking in, fellow crew members bombarded him with questions and congratulations.

Colquitt described the whole trip as a "life-changing experience." Both he and his wife are excited to pay off some debts, provide for their son's education and maybe even buy a new car. Colquitt will be enjoying a small taste of what it's like to be a one-quarter millionaire.