- Kevin Olmstead
Dr. Kevin Olmstead (born
March 20 ,1959 ) is an environmental engineer fromAnn Arbor, Michigan . He won $2.18 million on the TV game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" onApril 10 ,2001 , at the time a record for highest total winnings on a game show. "Millionaire" at this time had an increasing bonus on top of the $1 million top prize, as there had been a drought of top-prize winners for five months. Olmstead's final question was: "Who is credited with inventing the first mass-producedhelicopter ?", and he responded with the correct answer ofIgor Sikorsky .cite web| url = http://www.naqt.com/articles/olmstead.html | title = NAQT CFO Kevin Olmstead wins $2,180,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? | work = NAQT | accessdate = 2006-08-25] His record lasted about three and a half years until it was broken in November 2004 byKen Jennings on "Jeopardy! ". Olmstead still holds the record for the highest game show earnings on a U.S. network, since Jennings (andBrad Rutter , the current record-holder as of today) won on a syndicated game show. [cite web| url = http://www.tvgameshows.net/winners.htm | title = All-Time Network TV Quiz/Game $$$ Winners | work = TVGameShows.net | accessdate = 2006-08-25]Olmstead is an advisor for the
University of Michigan 'squiz bowl team and a founding member ofNational Academic Quiz Tournaments , a company that runs quiz bowl national championship tournaments at the high school and college levels. [cite web | url = http://www.naqt.com/members-emeriti.html | title = NAQT Members Emeriti | work = NAQT | accessdate = 2006-08-25] He is also a member ofToastmasters International , having obtained the "Distinguished Toastmaster" award, and is a past Division Governor, the 2006-2007 Public Relations Officer of District 28 Toastmasters, and the 2007-2008 Lieutenant Governor Education for District 28.One member of a quiz bowl team Olmstead advised was David Goodman, another top prize winner of "Millionaire".
On an episode of NBC's game show 1 vs. 100 which aired on
October 27 ,2006 , Olmstead appeared in the mob of 100 along with John Carpenter and Nancy Christy as three millionaires from "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" opposing the singular contestant. All three were eliminated without winning any money.Olmstead was a contestant on the "Grand Slam" game show tournament, but was defeated in the opening round.
References
External links
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7195-2004Oct4.html A: "Quiz Bowl. Q: What Do Top Game Show Players Prize?"] ,
Washington Post article
* [http://money.cnn.com/2004/07/13/pf/game_show/?cnn=yes "Who wants to be a game show champ?"]CNN article
* [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-75198237.html "TV QUIZ-SHOW MILLIONAIRE'S LIFE CHANGES"] ,Cincinnati Post article
* [http://www.d28toastmasters.org "District 28 Toastmasters web site"]
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