For a whole month, retired teacher Katie Dawson had to keep a $64,000 secret.
In March, Dawson was a “Wheel of Fortune” contestant and won $64,425 in — to use game-show speak — “cash and prizes.” All the details, though, had to stay on the QT until after the show aired at 6:30 Tuesday night.
Dawson, who taught elementary school in Sunnyside Unified School District, and her husband Bill had their two daughters, two grandchildren and Katie’s 92-year-old mom over to their home in the Tucson Mountains to watch the show, which taped in Los Angeles.
Dawson, a loyal “Wheel” watcher for more than two decades, had tried out for the show twice before over the years. The third time was a charm: When the Wheelmobile parked at Casino del Sol in November, she was finally selected after a lengthy audition.
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The Dawsons plan to travel to Italy and Hawaii, thanks to the winnings.
We caught up with Dawson to ask her five questions:
1 How did you find out you’d be on the show?
“I was notified by letter saying ‘Congratulations, you’re going to be a contestant.’ Then I got an email saying that my tape date is March 12 in L.A. I had to get out there myself; that kind of surprised me. You know you’re going to get $1,000 minimum because that’s the least that anyone’s given. I thought, ‘Well it’s a free trip to California.’
2 How heavy is the wheel?
“It’s heavy. It was heavier than I anticipated. The little wheel at the end — when you go into the bonus round — it was heavy, it was hard to spin. I see people all the time give it a good whirl. I gave it a good effort, and it kind of limped around. Upper body strength is not my forte.”
3 Did you do any training beforehand?
“I have been watching that show for years. My whole family, my daughters and husband and mom and dad, were saying, ‘You should go on the show.’ Sitting in my own living room, I can solve those things so quickly and easily, but I had to really talk myself into not panicking when it came time to be on the show.”
4 What part of the experience most stood out for you?
“How kind the people were there. Everyone just really made you feel welcome and feel comfortable. When we first arrived, (letter turner and hostess) Vanna (White) came out and greeted the group. She wasn’t all dressed up; she was in regular clothes. Of course, we all know she’s a goddess.”
5 Tell us about your winnings.
“I did win a car. I think it’s a Nissan Note. I’ll have to look it up in the paperwork — I don’t have it yet. It takes about 150 days before it arrives. I have to wait. I’ve been saving up money to pay the taxes.”
