Published: October 30, 2009 10:42 pm      

Area man wins ‘second-chance’ trip to Monday night game

NORTH TAZEWELL, Va. — Winning was “super nice” the second time around for a Tazewell County man who hit the Virginia Lottery’s “Redskins Mania Second-Chance Mania.”

David Fowler of North Tazewell — along with 19 additional family members and friends — were treated to a luxury suite at FedEx Field, for the Monday night National Football League game between the home-standing Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles. Fowler’s guests included his grandson, granddaughter, son-in-law, other family members and friends. In addition to the catered luxury suite, Fowler, his friends and family received six purple parking passes and $1,000 in spending money.

“I entered the contest to win one of the 50 Redskins football helmets signed by a player for my grandson,” Fowler said. “I didn’t win that prize. Instead, I hit the second overall prize, but I’ll have to keep entering because I’m still trying to get a helmet for my grandson.

“Really, this trip was the trip of a lifetime,” Fowler said. He is a first sergeant with the Virginia State Police, and commander of the Claypool Hill, Va., Detachment State Police. “Everything the Virginia Lottery did for us was first class. I wish Washington would have won because of all the Redskin fans that went with us. They lost, but it was a good trip for all of us. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

During a telephone interview Friday afternoon, John Haggerty, spokesman for the Virginia Lottery, sounded as excited about Fowler’s experience as Fowler did. “He was just excited when I spoke with him (Thursday) on the telephone,” Haggerty said. “He and all of his guests had a great time, and that’s what we wanted. We just wish the Redskins could have won.”

“It was just a lucky day for me,” Fowler said. He said he enjoys football, but added simply, “I’m a golfer.” He said that the Virginia Lottery notified him that he won the second prize in the contest on Oct. 9, and a short time later, someone he didn’t even know, called him to ask if he could join his party in the luxury suite. “I have no clue who he was, but he asked me if he could go with us,” Fowler said, adding that he already had a full compliment of guests.

“It was a super nice trip,” he said. “It was an enjoyable time for all of us.”

Nearly 95 cents of each dollar spent on the Virginia Lottery goes back to the state in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail commissions, according to information on the Redskins Mania VIP Prize web site.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com