Joan Ginther 1947 - 2024 / BHS Class of 1965
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Tom Estes
Apr 22, 2024, 5:45:15 PMApr 22
to Bishop News & Views
"Ginther touched lives behind the scenes" by J. T. Strasner, Editor/Publisher, The Kingsville Record, April 18, 2024
Being born on April Fool's Day can apparently result in a fascinating life that is absolutely no joke.
Bishop's own Joan Ginther passed away April 12 in San Antonio at the age of 77.
The daughter of longtime and beloved Bishop physician Dr. Clark Ginther, Joan became famous worldwide for hitting multiple lottery jackpots.
Specifically she is known to have won more than $20 million across four separate large lottery jackpots between 1993 and 2010.
Her first victory was a Lotto Texas win in 1993 of a reported $5.4 million.
Gnther is said to have added a $2 scratch-off ticket win, followed by a $3 million scratch-off lottery ticket jackpot a few years later.
Her largest lottery victory came in 2010, when she is said to have hit a final $10 million jackpot.
But in addition to the amazing luck, perhaps the most wonderful part of her story is the impact she had on local lives, putting at least 30 students through college by footing the bill herself.
"Not only did she pay for their college and books, she made sure they stayed on top of their studies," local pharmacist Nick Harrel said. "She checked on them and made sure they were keeping up their end of things and getting the degrees,working hard in school."
Two of the jackpot lotto wins were purchased right next door in Bishiop, and Harrel said not only did she like to frequent the convenient stores there, to "help the local businesses," she also made sure to purchase all of her medicines at Harrel's Pharmacy.
Ginther went on to live in Las Vegas for a period of time, then moved to San Antonio in recent years, where she passed away last week.
Regardless of her address, the local area was always Ginther's home, as Harrel said she kept a local motel room reserved in Bishop at all times, so she could return and continue to provide benevolence and generosity to citizens in the area.
"She was keen on taking care of the locals," Harrel said. "She was just a really fine person."
The mathematician in me finds the odds of someone hitting four large jackpots completely fascinating.
It is assumed that the odds of finding Ginther's luck are somewhere in the realm of 18 times 10 to the 24th power.
That's a figure that equals almost as much money as the government has stolen from taxpayers to give to Zalensky so he can buy another yacht.
But I digress.
Harrel, also known for his volunteer spirit, knows a little something about giving back to the community.
"To me, the wonderful thing is what she's done silently, behind the scenes, to help other people," Harrel said. "And she didn't really look for any thanks for it. She did it because she was a really good person. Hopefully other people will follow her example and take the charge to help others as well."
Amen, Nick.
Thanks to the Almighty for placing folks like Joan Ginther right here in our backyard. Peace be to her family and to those who loved and cared about her.
Being born on April Fool's Day can apparently result in a fascinating life that is absolutely no joke.
Bishop's own Joan Ginther passed away April 12 in San Antonio at the age of 77.
The daughter of longtime and beloved Bishop physician Dr. Clark Ginther, Joan became famous worldwide for hitting multiple lottery jackpots.
Specifically she is known to have won more than $20 million across four separate large lottery jackpots between 1993 and 2010.
Her first victory was a Lotto Texas win in 1993 of a reported $5.4 million.
Gnther is said to have added a $2 scratch-off ticket win, followed by a $3 million scratch-off lottery ticket jackpot a few years later.
Her largest lottery victory came in 2010, when she is said to have hit a final $10 million jackpot.
But in addition to the amazing luck, perhaps the most wonderful part of her story is the impact she had on local lives, putting at least 30 students through college by footing the bill herself.
"Not only did she pay for their college and books, she made sure they stayed on top of their studies," local pharmacist Nick Harrel said. "She checked on them and made sure they were keeping up their end of things and getting the degrees,working hard in school."
Two of the jackpot lotto wins were purchased right next door in Bishiop, and Harrel said not only did she like to frequent the convenient stores there, to "help the local businesses," she also made sure to purchase all of her medicines at Harrel's Pharmacy.
Ginther went on to live in Las Vegas for a period of time, then moved to San Antonio in recent years, where she passed away last week.
Regardless of her address, the local area was always Ginther's home, as Harrel said she kept a local motel room reserved in Bishop at all times, so she could return and continue to provide benevolence and generosity to citizens in the area.
"She was keen on taking care of the locals," Harrel said. "She was just a really fine person."
The mathematician in me finds the odds of someone hitting four large jackpots completely fascinating.
It is assumed that the odds of finding Ginther's luck are somewhere in the realm of 18 times 10 to the 24th power.
That's a figure that equals almost as much money as the government has stolen from taxpayers to give to Zalensky so he can buy another yacht.
But I digress.
Harrel, also known for his volunteer spirit, knows a little something about giving back to the community.
"To me, the wonderful thing is what she's done silently, behind the scenes, to help other people," Harrel said. "And she didn't really look for any thanks for it. She did it because she was a really good person. Hopefully other people will follow her example and take the charge to help others as well."
Amen, Nick.
Thanks to the Almighty for placing folks like Joan Ginther right here in our backyard. Peace be to her family and to those who loved and cared about her.
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