MONTGOMERY, Ala., Nov. 6, 2002 - For Gregg Hendley, the B.A.S.S. Outdoor Adventures Sweepstakes is more than a $120,000 payday. It's a ticket to independence.
Hendley, a pharmacist from Butler, Ala., won the 28th annual sweepstakes after submitting one entry a day for a month using the B.A.S.S. Web site. His diligence won him a lifetime membership as well as a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer LT, a 2002 Triton BASSMASTERS Classic boat with a custom trailer, a 200 horsepower Mercury Optimax motor, a Lowrance electronics package, a MotorGuide trolling motor, a 2002 Kawasaki MULE Utility Vehicle and a check for $40,000.
"I didn't believe it at first," Hendley said. "Then I got kind of sick to my stomach. It was a queasy feeling; I'd never won anything that big before."
Hendley, who lived with his parents before winning the sweepstakes, already has plans for the check.
"I'm going to buy a house," he said. "I've already bought a lot here in town and I've been looking around for house plans for a while. But I wouldn't have felt comfortable. It would have been a big financial burden if not for this."
In the past 10 years, B.A.S.S. has given away $2,830,000 in cash and prizes through the sweepstakes.
"We're happy for Gregg and pleased that our sponsors and membership allow us to create contest opportunities like this," said B.A.S.S. Consumer Marketing and Fulfillment Director Hank Brown. "Promotions like this reward B.A.S.S. members and attract new fans through BASSMASTER Magazine, the Bassmaster.com web site and our other terrific publications."
Hendley received his prizes at an awards ceremony at B.A.S.S. headquarters in Montgomery, Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m.