CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice and his English bulldog, Babydog, spent much of Wednesday traveling across West Virginia presenting some of the latest winners of the statewide coronavirus vaccination sweepstakes with prizes.
Heather Coburn of Princeton won the third $1 million prize, and William Harris of Clendenin and James Sanson of Fairmont won custom-outfitted trucks. The governor and Babydog greeted each winner at three different ceremonies.
Justice and Babydog surprised Harris at the Hardee’s location in Big Chimney.
“To be honest with you, I am not sure how to react. I am quite speechless,” Harris said.
Sanson, a Marion County Schools employee, said he was not prepared to receive a new truck.
“The secretary, Robin Haught, called me yesterday to come in to meet the new superintendent, Dr. Donna Hage,” he said.
Sanson and his wife talked with Hage for several minutes at the Marion County Schools building in Fairmont while the governor, Babydog and Marion County Schools staff moved to the front of the building with the truck.
“Eventually, two state troopers came in and asked me to come inside, and I had no idea why,” Sanson said.
The Sansons and troopers walked out of the building with Justice and Babydog sitting by the truck.
Sanson remained in shock as he walked around the vehicle and answered reporters’ questions about what he will do next.
“Drive it, I guess,” he joked.
Harris and Sanson told reporters they did not get vaccinated to become registered for the vaccination sweepstakes but rather for their health.
“It’ll very much help us get out of the current pandemic we are in,” said Harris, a West Virginia University medical student. “It’ll very much help us get back to normal and the lives we’ve had.”
The Governor’s Communications Office announced other prize winners earlier Wednesday:
— Full four-year scholarships to any West Virginia public institution: Devin Dawson of Alma and Paige Stanley of Parkersburg.
— Lifetime hunting licenses: Joshua Butler of Charleston; Tiffani Hendershot of Parkersburg; Tina Holloway of Upper Tract; Amanda Loftis of Danville; and Samuel Powell of Morgantown.
— Lifetime fishing licenses: Chelsea Bonnett of Nitro; Charles Dohring of Huntington; and Michelle Holland of Morgantown; Christopher Smith of Bunker Hill; and Sherry Sprinkel of Valley Bend.
— Custom hunting rifles: Tiffany Granger of Princeton; Jon Oberly of Morgantown; Carolyn Parrish of Charleston; Andrea Preston of Union; and Sheila Rodgers of Moundsville.
— Custom hunting shotguns: Roger Cunningham of Elkview; Wima Keffer of Coal City; Tonya Myers of Morgantown; Michael Perdue of Oak Hill; and Lisa Wright of Princeton.
— State Park weekend getaways: Derek Alvis of Princeton; William Ray Arbogast of Wellsburg; Judith Bright of Sutton; Lois Cadle of Cross Lanes; Jeremy Clem of Barboursville; Leah Coburn of Princeton; Holly Conrad of Barboursville; Kelly Dayfield of St. Albans; Roy Durst of Mount Alto; Nancy Giacomo of Boomer; Earnest Gwinn of Meadow Bridge; Kimberly Holder of Alum Creek; Chris Jones of Pennboro; Orlyn Kelley of South Charleston; Terry J. Kidd of Fraziers Bottom; Charles Lockard of Ridgeley; Angalete McBrayer of Racine; Amy McIntire of Lewisburg; Robert Rinehart of Dixie; Jacob Smith of Arthurdale; Janet Smith of Vienna; Ethan Stack of Crab Orchard; Cheryl Wayts of Tallmansville; Cheryl Weaver of Grafton; and Han Wu of St. Albans.
Lottery drawings will take place through Aug. 4.
MetroNews’ Jake Flatley and Mike Nolting contributed to this story.