MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Cpl. Ricky Russell, native of Sacramento, Calif., was the winner of the 2010 Marine Corps Community Services Football Bash grand prize – a five day/four night, all expense paid trip for two to Arlington, Texas, to attend Super Bowl XLV, valued at over $7,500.
Russell, a Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 flight equipment technician, was Unit Deployment Program to MCAS Iwakuni when he entered the Football Bash at Club iwakuni.
This fall, MCCS clubs and restaurants across the Corps sponsored the MCCS Football Bash in an effort to get Marines into MCCS facilities for a little fun, camaraderie and football.
In all, MCCS club and restaurant patrons submitted over 60,000 raffle entries.
“I was at the club practicing for the Marine Corps Ball cake ceremony and I saw the application form so I decided to fill it out,” said Russell.
As the winner of the MCAS Iwakuni drawing, he was eligible for a one in 20 chance at the grand prize.
His name was drawn during a raffle Dec. 10, at headquarters Marine Corps, Personal and Family Readiness Division, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Timmerman, Personal & Family Readiness Division sergeant major, drew the winning ticket.
“I had just woken up when I got the news so I was a little dazed,” said Russell. “Once reality set in I was excited.”
The grand prize winner receives tickets for two to Super Bowl XLV, airfare, four nights lodging, a Sony waterproof digital camera, and $500 spending money.
“I’m planning on taking my father with me. I wouldn’t want to sell the tickets,” said Russell. “Everyone wants to go to the Super Bowl.”