Who wants to be a millionaire?
Patrick Dixon, that's who!
While I don't know how many of you out there in Carson Country have tried to get on the "Millionaire" show, I would guess that most who did try didn't get through. But Patrick did, and he now awaits the return call that could change his life.
"I got through and answered the series of questions asked," said Patrick proudly. "I was informed I would be contacted by them if I were to become a contestant."
Anything yet?
"So far nothing," he replied with a laugh. "But it's only been two weeks so I'm keeping my fingers crossed."
Later on we'll tell you who Patrick has selected as his "phone-a-friend" lifelines and we'll talk about Patrick's studies of the occult. But first, let's meet this "almost a native Nevadan" who was born 20 years ago at the Naval Base in San Diego.
"I came to Carson City when I was 2 weeks old and have lived here ever since," said Patrick. "I was raised in Carson City by my (maternal) grandparents, Avis and Don, who adopted me. As far as I'm concerned, Avis and Don are my mom and dad."
Do you know what happened to your birth parents?
"My birth parents split right after I was born and I don't remember them at all," he answered. "I don't even know if my birth father is alive, but my birth mom is. She was supposed to come back and get me .... She never did."
Patrick has one brother and one sister, who are Avis and Don's children.
"Avis and Don own and operate Dixon's Garage on Corbett Street in Carson City and have for many years," said Patrick. "My older sister, Danielle, lives in Reno and my younger brother, Sam, lives at home with Mom and Dad."
We were visiting in Patrick's apartment he shares with his roommate Dave and his cat D'Artaigan.
"He's a stray I picked up a year ago," noted Patrick as the cat jumped up on my lap. "He's very friendly."
Patrick works at Carson Access Television and is the technical operations director for the station.
"I was a volunteer and started as an intern," he said. "Since then I've been the computer technician, the technical assistant and I've worked every possible position at the station."
His job now includes doing "most of the editing" for the station's shows and he directs and operates equipment "as needed" for both channels - 10 and 26 - at CAT.
"I'm behind the camera when necessary and do the sound and lights, plus I work in the office," he said. "I do live telecasts like the supervisor meetings and Swope's Place and I do taped shows like Sportstalk with The Pearl and Picks From The Pinon. I work with Diane Alberg (community services director) and (executive director) Craig Swope.
"We're a good group and work well together."
HE WANTS TO BE A COP
If he somehow doesn't win a million dollars on the TV show, Patrick has some alternative plans.
"I will be attending WNCC and UNR in the near future," he explained. "I'll be studying for my major in psychology and my minor in criminal justice. I want to eventually enter law enforcement and my goal is to become an FBI agent."
All that could change if Patrick receives "that one phone call" that can make him a rich man.
"I want to be a millionaire," he laughed. "I am ready for the show!"
ME & REGIS
I showed Patrick a couple of photos of me and Regis Philbin as I told him how I met and talked with Philbin.
It was back in 1985 and in those days Caesars-Tahoe had an annual celebrity/charity tennis tournament called "Caesars Challenge" and I covered the event for the Nevada Appeal.
I had gone up to Caesars to interview John McEnroe and his celebrity partner, actor Kirk Douglas (Yes, I got my photo taken with them, too) and in the media/celebrity area we were in, there was Regis.
Those were the days before I grew my moustache and before Regis became a household name, but I knew of Regis because of his sidekick days on the old Joey Bishop show and his own local TV show in Los Angeles, where I was born and raised.
He was very friendly and we talked about his early days in TV in L.A., his love of tennis and I even got a few quotes from him to use in my story about McEnroe.
That was a fun time for me and I enjoyed my visit with Regis very nuch.
I told Patrick I didn't think my long-ago visit with Regis could help Patrick get on the show .... Heck, it won't even help me as every time I call that toll-free number to try to get on the show, I always get a busy signal.
So I'll keep calling, but in the meantime I'll root for Patrick to get that call he awaits.
-- I will be one of Patrick's phone-a-friend lifelines, however.
"I'll use Craig Swope as my general knowledge lifeline," he said with a smile. "And I'll use you as my sports and TV expert and that's it. I know a lot of obscure things and that will help .... I just hope they call."
STRANGE STUFF
Patrick studies the occult.
"I started 10 years ago and I've gone all over Northern Nevada studying and searching for proof of the unknown."
Had any success?
"There's been a couple of times I've seen some strange things that I can't explain," he replied. "I do believe that some things are unexplainable but real. Not aliens but spirit-world type things like ghosts. I believe ghosts exist but I can't prove it. It's my hobby and I have a big collection of metaphysical books and other assorted items related to my hobby."
VIDEO GAMES & BAD HORROR MOVIES
Patrick says he is good at video and computer games too.
"I'm good at them and I also collect bad horror movies," he laughed. "I have about 150 in my collection. I also role play and do free-form acting and I write a little too. Mostly horror fiction but some poetry and songs and that's pretty much my life.
"I'm just living a normal and fun life in Carson City. I'm happy here and living a life I like, and that's fine with me."
THE INDY 500
Did you see and hear Jim Nabors sing "Back Home in Indiana" to open the Indy 500 last Sunday?
Nabors has sung that song for 30 years now at the race and tonight on our Street Talk TV Show on CAT-10 we'll visit with Jim and he'll tell us how that all began, about his brush with death and his liver transplant, plus he'll talk about his days as Gomer Pyle on the old "Andy Griffith Show" and on his own "Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C." show.
The one-hour show airs at 6 p.m. It repeats Monday at 8 a.m.
ALAN ROGERS is a Nevada Appeal columnist. His message phone is 887-2430, ext. 402.
