Memory Lane

These things happened in 1992:

Hurricane Andrew caused unbelievable damage in Florida in August. With winds of 165 miles per hour and gusts over 200 mile per hour, it caused between $27 and $35 billion in damage and desroyed not dozens, not hundreds, but TENS of THOUSANDS of houses and killed as many as 65 people.

The Mall of America opened in that same month. There are over 500 stores built on 78 acres where Metropolitan Stadium once stood as home to the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.

McDonalds opened its first hamburger stand in Beijing, China.

Miley Cyrus was born.

The Winter Olympic Games are held in Albertville, France, and Bill Clinton was elected president of the US.

And, two guys from Menomonie, Wisconsin, made a promise that if either of them ever hit the big bucks on a Wisconsin Powerball Lottery ticket, they would split the swag 50-50.  Their names were Thomas Cook and Joe Feeney. They had nothing but a handshake agreement to go on.

And that was pretty much the year that was 1992.

And then in 2020, Cook bought a ticket for the June 10 drawing. And whaddya think?

You got it - he hit the big time, to the tune of $22 million. 

I can name that tune!

But what do you think he did?

a) feign amnesia
b) split the proceeds
c) say, "Joe Feeney? Who's Joe Feeney?"


Feeney is a big fisherman, so here is what he said when Cook called to tell him he could afford the really best worms from here on:  "He called me and I said, 'are you jerking my bobber?'"

For non-fishermen and -women, here is what he meant.

Nothing was being jerked, although the odds of hitting the Powerball are 1 in 292,201,338, according to the lottery. But the odds are good that Feeney is glad that the best friend he ever had on this earth remembered the promise of 1992.
Feeney is a retired firefighter; Cook was still working until about five minutes after he heard he hit the numbers. He gave his two weeks notice and says now he and his family can "pursue what we feel comfortable with."

The Cooks, the Feeneys, and an unidentified Lottery official (left).

"I can't think of a better way to retire," Cook stated for all of mankind.

The two guys and their wives have always traveled and vacationed together, and now Mr and Mrs Cook and Mr and Mrs Feeney "plan to upgrade" their travel accommodations.

I should say so.

I'm glad they remembered the handshake!