Update on Iowa's Biggest Jackpot Winners

A few weeks ago, we had a surprise visit from Tim and Kellie Guderian of Fort Dodge. You may remember them – they won a $200.8 million Powerball jackpot in 2006, the largest lottery prize that’s been won in Iowa. For a trip down memory lane, here’s a USA Today article about their jackpot win.

Tim and Kellie were on their way to the Iowa State Fair when they remembered the “Stars Boards” here at lottery headquarters and wanted to see their names on the boards.

In the lobby here at lottery headquarters in Des Moines, we have large boards on the wall that have gold name plaques in them, listing all of those who have won prizes of $1 million or more since the lottery’s start in 1985. The first name on the boards is that of Bill Watson of Council Bluffs, who became the first lottery multi-millionaire in Iowa when he won a $4 million prize on the  “Wheel Spin” television show in November 1985.

The newest name on the boards is that of Kimberly Edwards of Pleasant Hill, who claimed  the $1 million top prize in June in “Iowa’s Million Dollar Raffle” game.

Tim and Kellie remembered that when they claimed their jackpot two years ago, we told them that their names would be added to the Stars Boards and they stopped by the lottery to take a quick picture with their plaque. It’s fun for those of us at the lottery to catch up with our jackpot winners. Folks outside the lottery sometimes think that we keep in touch with our winners, but by and large, that isn’t the case. Sometimes we hear from our winners who receive annuitized payments over time, but for those who receive their jackpot winnings in one lump-sum payment, we often don’t interact with them again after the big check is presented.

The Stars Boards in our lobby are a fun drawing point for lottery visitors. People search for names they remember, people they may know, or winners from their hometowns or areas of the state. The boards are also a quick way for us to double-check the stats on a particular winner when we’re having trouble remembering the details!

So, Tim and Kellie, thanks for stopping by! It was great to catch up with you and to see you enjoying your lives. Everybody else, consider this your invitation to stop by the lottery and check out our Stars Boards in the lobby!

Tim and Kellie receiving their ceremonial
check in October 2006.

Tim and Kellie enjoying life now.