Raffle winner donates prize to local school

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon White
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  A Great Falls woman won a Ford pickup from a raffle drawing April 24 during Wild West Night at the Grizzly Bend Club, and donated it to a local high school. 

Mary Floyd said she liked the F-150, but decided to donate it because she and retired Lt. Col. Harold Floyd, her husband, did not need it. 

"I knew somebody was going to be happy when they won it because this is 'pickup country,'" Mrs. Floyd said. "I didn't think I would win it." 

Several attempts were made to contact the Floyds, but their phone was off-the-hook that Saturday morning, and Mrs. Floyd was at a dental appointment in the afternoon as part of Retiree Appreciation Weekend. 

Mrs. Floyd finally got the news when an acquaintance congratulated her in the hallway of the base clinic following her dental appointment, she said. 

"I couldn't believe it," she said. "I never win anything. I thought there was a misunderstanding." 

The couple decided to pass their good fortune along by donating it to Central Catholic High School in Great Falls, Mont., where their two sons had attended school. 

"As soon as she got the keys, she asked for someone to drive it down to the high school," said Joe Vieth, 341st Force Support Squadron community support flight chief. 

Harold and Mary are long-time supporters of the school, and they know Central is always in need of help, said Colette Bernica, CCHS capital campaign coordinator. 

Bison Ford, the dealership that originally provided the truck to the Grizzly Bend Club to give away, agreed to buy the truck back from the school for the amount the dealership originally paid for it. The money is going toward a loan, which the school received two years ago to build their current building. 

"We would like to thank the Floyd family for their generosity and Bison Ford for their generosity as well," Mrs. Bernica said. "The cash donation came in at a great time and we are very, very happy. The Floyds are the kindest people I've met in Montana. They are just gems."