Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Francisco O. Munoz’s birthday was almost a month ago.
But his biggest birthday surprise should be showing up any day now.
Munoz, a sailor on the USS Abraham Lincoln, was a big winner on “The Price is Right” last month when a group of sailors from the ship went to see the popular television game show.
The surprise started with going to the show, which wasn’t in his birthday plans.
Munoz had just finished “Happy Hour,” the time on the ship that’s devoted to scrubbing and cleaning the carrier, when his chief walked up to him and told him he was going. With the Lincoln in port in California, the program had been looking for 25 sailors from the ship to sit in the audience.
It was a big thrill for the 25-year-old sailor.
The fifth of six children in a family with three boys and three girls, Munoz has been a fan of the show since he was a young boy in El Paso, Texas.
His father, Francisco R. Munoz, was a devoted viewer.
“My father – God rest his soul – was a real big fan of the show. Ever since I can remember, I would watch the show with him,” he said.
“My dad didn’t know how to speak English, but he understood everything on the show.”
Munoz said he was shocked when he heard his name, and then, “Come on down!”
He quickly found himself on stage, talking with game show legend Bob Barker. The sailor advanced in the game after his first bid, a winning guess on six stainless steel kitchen appliances.
“My bid was $1,000 and I was only $4 off the retail price,” he said. “I’m telling you, I think I was on a roll that day.”
He credited his wife, Nicolette.
“I have a wife that knows how to shop. I pay close attention to what she buys,” he said with a laugh.
His next potential prize? A NEW CAR!
Munoz shook off more shock – and thoughts of walking away a loser – as he stepped up to play Let ‘Em Roll. Contestants roll five cubes down a small ramp, and have two more chances, to get a car symbol facing right-side up on all five cubes.
On the line: A fully loaded 2004 Chevrolet Aveo.
“I won with one roll,” Munoz said. “Bob Barker told me that I will forever go down in history for that game. No one in the history of ‘The Price is Right’ has won a car with one roll.”
“I definitely knew that God was working that day, and he was there to bless me.”
Munoz almost made it to the showcase showdown. He spun the big money wheel and came up with 90 cents.
It was 10 cents short. Some “old guy” who spun before the sailor hit $1.
There were no hard feelings for him or the host, however. Munoz gave Barker a USS Lincoln ball cap, embroidered with the game show host’s name on the back. It was a welcome gift for Barker, who spent 21/2 years in the Navy.
Munoz, an air traffic controller on the carrier, has been in the military almost seven years, and has spent half of his Navy career aboard the Lincoln.
His wife and children – Brandon, 5, Annalise, almost 2, and Chloe, 61/2 months – saw the show when it aired in mid-June. Munoz is still trying to find a tape of the show for himself, though.
When the new car arrives, the sailor isn’t planning on keeping the keys to himself.
“You know how it is when we have significant others. Everything we have belongs to our wives,” he said.
“If my queen wants to drive it, then hey, she can take over.”
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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