CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tears were shed Tuesday morning at the headquarters of the West Virginia Lottery when retiring state lottery director John Musgrave took part in his last commission meeting.
“I haven’t been looking forward to this day,” Musgrave told the large crowd. “This is a job that I love.”
When Musgrave steps down next week, it will end a 19-year run under four governors.
“It’s been almost magical how he’s protected the integrity of the lottery and has been able to grow it,” said lottery commission member Michael Adams.
During the first years of the West Virginia Lottery, when integrity was questioned, Musgrave sought to reassure the public.
“It’s a direct result of what the director has been able to do and ingrain in his staff. It’s not only he but everyone that he works with,” said Commission chairman Ken Greear. “He sets an expectation as an example, and it’s an example that people follow.”
There was a show of respect from the gaming industry Tuesday as the top officers of the racetracks and casinos attended the meeting. The West Virginia Lottery, which brought in $250 million a year when he took over in 1997, reached annual revenues surpassing $1.5 billion.
“John Musgrave has been a significant part both from an administrator standpoint, a regulator standpoint, and he and the industry have worked together very well,” said West Virginia Racing and Gaming Association president John Cavacini.
Musgrave was appointed by then-Gov. Cecil Underwood in 1996. After the Republican’s defeat in the 2000 election, new Gov. Bob Wise kept Musgrave, as did subsequent governors Joe Manchin and Earl Ray Tomblin.
“That’s one appointment that they never disturbed because they knew he was the best. He knew what he was doing. He had a steady hand. He was respected in the industry….I don’t know what else you could say,” Adams said.
Musgrave’s staff honored him with a large cardboard fake check, which they all signed. It was a takeoff on the many checks he gave away over the years to lottery winners.
“My position has always been that we were regulators first,” he told reporters after the meeting. “Our job was to protect the public and protect the people and do the very best we could do to keep gambling intact.”
After speaking with Tomblin about the open position, Musgrave said the governor has announced no date for naming a successor.