by Linda Scrivner

Ronnie Spears of Tullahoma, Tenn. paid $3800 each for the last five tickets for the 2002 Ford Explorer at the Grand Prize Giveaway Dec. 1 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs Hotel in Franklin, Tenn.

Held each year in conjunction with the annual Walking Horse Trainers’ Association meeting and awards banquet, the Grand Prize Giveaway is one of the fund raisers held during the meeting. Bill Carrigan was the master of ceremonies and Theresa Carpinito and Joyce Marie Green took down the names as they were drawn.

This year’ s schedule was rearranged with the Grand Prize Giveaway starting at 5:30 with a reception preceding the trainers’ banquet. All but the last 25 tickets were drawn at that time.They were drawn following the banquet. When the last five were ready to be drawn bidding started to buy them. The final five were Lonnie Messick, Jeanna Hainer, a ticket belonging to Joe Martin, Jill Derickson and John Brundige, Bob Parks and Paul “Whitey” Whitehead. After intensive bidding Ronnie Spears was the final bidder at $3800. They continued drawing after the bidding to see who would have won if they had not sold out and it would have been Whitehead. Too bad, Whitey!! But you did come out better than the first 245!