Gaston reaches celebrity status as Millionaire contestant

Have you ever tried to get on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? There are certain times when an aspiring contestant can call 1 (800) 999-7878 in an attempt to qualify to sit in the “hot seat” across from Regis Philbin on the popular game show, but the telephone line is usually busy, busy, busy.

Terry Gaston, public relations director at Brewton-Parker College, has demonstrated that persistence pays off.

He started calling the Millionaire hotline when the show debuted in 1999. Through sheer dogged determination he got through 20 times, answered questions appropriately, but never got called back. When the Super Millionaire version of the show was launched earlier this year he decided to try again.

Callers answer questions by pressing the numbers on a touchtone telephone to qualify for consideration as a contestant. Gaston related, “In my first attempt to qualify as a contestant I botched the first answer by hitting the wrong button. I tried again the second night and didn’t know the second question. On the third night I got through all five questions and had to pick a date that I could go to New York if I was selected to be on the show.”

At 9:40 a.m. on Friday, May 14, Gaston got the call. Gaston still had to meet certain eligibility requirements and indicate the city from which he would fly to New York. The Millionaire staff immediately began to make arrangements for Gaston and his wife, Tami. Within hours the Gastons received another call saying that they had a 5:50 a.m. flight out of Savannah the next morning.

The call necessitated a mad scramble to see who could keep the Gaston’s three sons, getting them packed and farmed out for the weekend, getting packed for the trip to “the city that never sleeps,” filling out Millionaire questionnaires, getting hair cuts and a myriad of other things.

However, within 22 hours of receiving the call from New York the Gastons were in the city checking into a posh hotel. Gaston explained, “I had always hoped to go to New York, but never thought it would be a reality. But the next thing I knew we were on a plane and about to check into a hotel far more luxurious than anything we could ever afford.”

Gaston continued, “We were picked up at LaGuardia Airport a little after 8 a.m. in a chauffeured SUV. The driver took us through some of the scenic areas en route from Queens to Manhattan and even told me to pop my head out of the moon roof for better pictures.”

Terry and Tami had the opportunity to see much of “The City” on Saturday, but also had to complete his “Phone-A-Friend” contacts. There was a meeting with the producer on Saturday evening to rehearse plans for the show on Sunday.

The contestants were taken to the ABC Studios on Sunday several hours in advance of the 6 p.m. taping of the show. There were interviews, make-up and hair styling sessions and meetings with producers and attorneys. Gaston reported, “We visited the set and practiced the fastest finger game five times. My practice times were not good, but I keyed in more on accuracy, and then the time took care of itself in the actual game.”

Host Regis Philbin met the contestants briefly before the taping and when told that Gaston was from Vidalia commented about the sweet onions produced in that area of Georgia.

Gaston quickly qualified to field the questions and “cruised” though the first eight questions, getting to the $30,000 level before hitting a problematic query about a distant planetoid. He used all three lifelines to find the correct answer and finally concluded that the answer was “Sedna,” putting him at the $50,000 level.

At that point there was a commercial break. Gaston reminisced, “I prayed over the situation regarding the next question which was worth $100,000 and asked the Lord to make it obvious as to whether or not I knew the answer. The question had to do with the Supreme Court Justice that had Gilbert-and-Sullivan inspired stripes placed on his robe in 1995. I had no clue and was not willing to even take a guess since I was out of lifelines.”

Gaston proudly mentioned his relationship with Brewton-Parker College during the nationally televised broadcast and wore his Brewton-Parker lapel pin during the show. Three of his Phone-A-Friend contacts were on the Brewton-Parker faculty, so the Georgia Baptist institution of higher education in Mount Vernon received considerable publicity for one Monday evening in May.

Gaston remarked, “Tami and I really sought the Lord’s guidance regarding this matter. We appreciate what we received monetarily from Millionaire, but as a couple we had not had a multiple-night’s stay away from children in almost 4 years. We had a wonderful time to enjoy each other’s company in one of the most fabulous cities in the world.”

The BPC public relations director added, “Thankfully, the money we will receive will help us get out of long term debt and upgrade our vehicle situation (their newest automobile is a 1993 model). I hope my prayers over the last two questions revealed my dependence upon God and planted a seed that will ultimately result in someone being saved or rededicating their lives to Christ.”

ABC

Two days after receiving the call in Mount Vernon that he would be on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Public Relations Director for Brewton-Parker College Terry Gaston found himself sitting across from host Regis Philbin and answering a series of questions.

ABC

Terry Gaston acknowledges the crowd after correctly choosing the answer to the $50,000 question. In determining the answer, Gaston used all three lifelines. When he realized he had "no clue" on the next question, Gaston opted for the money.

ABC

Terry Gaston and wife Tami display the $50,000 check he won after appearing on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? "Thankfully, the money we will receive will help us get out of long term debt and upgrade our vehicle situation," Gaston says.