Former Vaulter Wins $220 Million Lottery!

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/11923683.htm

Small town of Salmon abuzz about homegrown millionaire

Associated Press

SALMON, Idaho - Around his hometown in the rugged mountains along the Idaho-Montana border, Brad Duke was best remembered as the two-time state champion pole-vaulter for the Salmon River High School Savages.

That was until this week, when the 33-year-old Boise fitness trainer revealed himself as the mystery winner of a $220 million Memorial Day weekend Powerball jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever won in Idaho. On Thursday, Duke took a one-time lump sum payment from the Idaho Lottery Commission of approximately $85 million after taxes.

He plans on using the winnings to build a $1 billion business empire within the next 15 years, as well as allocate money to estate plans for his parents, two brothers and sister, and his nieces and nephews.

News of his good fortune was celebrated Thursday in Salmon, a community of 3,122 residents located about halfway between Boise and Missoula.

"We're very happy for him," said Terri Orr, a secretary at the insurance office owned by Duke's father John, where the telephone rang repeatedly with phone calls of congratulations, investment pitches and solicitations for donations.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Duke said he plans on staying in touch with his hometown roots and may live in Salmon part-time, after he decides on a new home in the Boise area.

"That's one thing I dread because I love where I'm at right now and I just got the house the way I want it," said Duke, who currently lives in the Boise suburb of Star. "But I absolutely am going to stay in Idaho, I love it here, and I'll probably build a second home in Salmon."

Since Duke's parents, grandmother and one of his brothers live on the same city block in Salmon, his sister, Patti, said: "He might as well just buy up the rest of the block."

Duke excelled for the high school track team in 1989 and 1990 before going to the College of Southern Idaho on a decathlon scholarship and transferring to Boise State University to pole vault in 1993.

"Brad was a heck of a nice kid," said Frank Greene, who coached Duke in high school. "He was a good student in addition to being a tremendous athlete."

Duke had originally hoped to pursue a career as a physical therapist or chiropractor after graduating with degrees in exercise science and health promotion, but he liked working as an instructor in Boise-area fitness clubs. He was the regional fitness director for Gold's Gym when he realized Memorial Day he had won the Powerball jackpot with a series of numbers he had played periodically the past few years.

"I'm still going to maintain some sort of employment relationship with Gold's Gym," Duke said. But he said managing his new wealth and the team of investment and legal advisers he's assembled will occupy most of his time.

"At the end of the day, if I'm not feeling good about who I'm trying to trust, that amount of money is going to be a nightmare," he said. "There's a lot of charities and lot of options for investments on the table, and nothing has been confirmed or denied."

Greene said Salmon residents are not the kind of people to have their hand out for a share of Duke's riches. But, "I can't imagine a person of his stature not helping out this community," he said. "If anybody can come into that much money and be able to handle it, it will be him."

Lifelong Salmon resident Shanda Fitte, who went to school with Duke, said she can't help but think that when Duke talks about helping those who helped him, he means Salmon.

"When you grow up here, you know the struggles that people and their families face," she said. "You see the benefit dinners where everyone goes and gives whether they can afford it or not. People from Salmon understand real life."

[Mecham]

You know... i am running a little low on cash...