Local News
Huntsville man to appear on 'Wheel of Fortune'
Years of figuring out puzzles and playing close attention to game shows on television have finally paid off for a Huntsville teacher.
Donny Brown, a teacher for students with special needs at Bayes Achievement Center, will be a contestant on one of his favorite shows, “Wheel of Fortune.”
The show, which was recorded in October, airs tonight at 6:30 on CBS.
“It was very exciting,” Brown said Monday evening. “It was my first time on a plane and it was my first time in L.A. I was nervous. It was pretty surreal.”
Even though Brown has been a longtime viewer, he didn’t know what to expect when he arrived for the taping.
“Even though I knew what everything looked like with the wheel and the board, being there and in front of a studio audience was great,” Brown said. “Everything looks a lot bigger on TV than it does in person.
“The people are great. I became friends with the other contestants. Pat Sajak and Vanna White are really down-to-earth people.”
Brown, who has watched Wheel of Fortune since he was approximately 12 years old, admitted that he had become adept to figuring out the show’s puzzles after following it for so long.
His wife noticed as well and applied for him online at www.wheeloffortune.com.
“My wife signed me up nearly a year ago and I never thought anything else would come of it,” Brown said. “Then about eight or nine months ago, I got an e-mail to audition at the Galleria in Houston.”
After auditioning, Brown was one of the limited few that survived the first cut.
Then Brown took a written test with a variety of puzzles and participated in a more intense simulated game.
“They really wanted to see how we would react to certain situations,” Brown said. “A short while after that, I got a letter saying that I had been entered into a contestants’ pool. Later, I got another letter stating that I would be a contestant for a show that was to be taped on Oct. 22.”
Though the process of getting on “Wheel of Fortune” was an extensive one, being a part of the show is something Brown admitted he’ll remember for a long time.
“It was a great process,” Brown said. “The other contestants were from all over the country. It truly was a special experience. My family is really excited to see me on TV.
“This just goes to show that anything, however unlikely, is possible and can happen.”
- Local News
-
-
Library program sprouts young minds
Walker County Master Gardeners spent some time planting seeds about planting seeds during a program for children at the Huntsville Public Library Wednesday.
-
City, school elections set in New Waverly
Five people have filed as candidates for the New Waverly City Council, while five newcomers have filed for two positions on the New Waverly Independent School District for the May 8 election.
-
Huntsville mayor shows support for meals program
Huntsville Mayor J. Turner helped the Senior Center of Walker County deliver meals to homebound residents Wednesday as part of the nationwide Mayors for Meals Day.
-
16 teens compete in Scramble Heifer Program
The 2009-2010 Walker County Fair Scramble Heifer Program got off to a great start during the Walker County Fair rodeo in March 2009.
-
Walker County CDC Nears Completion of Home Re-build
The Walker County Community Development Corp. is nearing completion of its first home rebuilding project on Old Colony Road and is now working to create a list of possible applicants to purchase this home or participate in future projects.
-
Obama’s health care plan picks up support
President Barack Obama’s much-challenged health care overhaul gained traction Wednesday as a liberal lawmaker became the first to switch his opposition and Catholic nuns declared their support in an unusual public break with the bishops.
-
Broken drive shaft likely caused Texas bus crash
A broken drive shaft likely caused a Mexico-bound bus to veer wildly on a Texas highway before flipping over, killing two passengers and injuring 40 others on board, investigators said Wednesday.
-
Workshop to teach cattle operators about tax credits
Cattle owners in Walker County and surrounding counties will have the opportunity to learn about tax credits still available top producers of breeding stock during a Beef Cattle Taxation, Marketing & Health Workshop Friday.
-
2010 Walker County Fair only nine days away
Officially only nine more days remain until the start of the 32nd Walker County Fair and Rodeo and “Blue Jeans and Country Dreams!”
-
HPD seeking tire theft suspects
Huntsville police are seeking two suspects after an attempted tire theft at a local apartment complex Monday morning.
- More Local News Headlines
-
