Ocracoke High School English teacher, Charles Temple, recently participated in Jeopardy's first ever Teacher Tournament. Charles is a well known and well loved member of our community family. We are all so very proud of him! Not only did he win the tournament ($100,000 and a guaranteed spot in the Tournament of Champions) but he played very well. He was a natural. 
For Charles and his girlfriend, Chrisi, an even bigger accomplishment, and the hardest part, had to be keeping the big secret from February till May. Believe me, in a small, close-knit community such as we live in, that was a very big feat indeed.

Charles taught both of my kids in high school and they learned a lot from him. He also coached basketball so they worked closely with him there. I consider him a friend and so do they. He was helpful to us in many ways and we will always appreciate and cherish his friendship...and, again, we are oh so proud of his most recent accomplishment! We will be cheering him on in the next round of competition. 

Each of Charles' appearances on Jeopardy was excitedly viewed by a huge gathering of neighbors and friends at Gaffers Sports Pub. The entry below is Charles' girlfriend, Chrisi's, narrative of the big night. The night Charles won the tournament!

You can also read Charles' story in his own words here.





May 18, 2011

A Jeopardy Star is Born

Friday the 13th was blown out of the water as the unholiest of unlucky days when Charles Temple won Jeopardy’s Teacher Tournament.  That’s right, folks, he won the whole enchilada.

While most had been standing strong in their convictions that Charles would place first, beliefs wavered a bit on Thursday when Charles’ undefeated streak was broken.  Lori beat Charles that day by about $8,000.  In order to take the title of champion, Charles’ score on Friday would have to be at least that much more than Lori’s.  Suddenly the creeping fingers of doubt plucked at the insides of some, and first place began to take on the shimmering quality of a mirage.

Ocracoke had been plenty supportive of Charles.  And how!  Each day he appeared on TV, most would turn out at Gaffer’s to cheer him on.  If a person had to work, they watched that night’s episode later on a friend’s DVR.  Everyone knew what was going on and where he stood.  The outcome was the only tidbit to evade them, and, despite many best efforts and cornerings, Charles and I weren’t talking. 

So when Friday night rolled around, Gaffer’s was packed.  I thought opening night of the tournament had pulled people in by the droves, but the first night had nothing on the last night.  People stood shoulder-to-shoulder, back-to-back while poor servers did their best to slip between bodies and through spaces that constantly shifted. 

And then prom rolled in.  That’s right, prom.  Charles was a chaperone for the Ocracoke School prom that incidentally fell on the same day.  In order for him to be in attendance for the big night, he either had to leave prom or bring it with him.  We had deliberated over the dilemma a few times, and Charles really felt the need for his students to be able to share in the experience.  It was, after all, a Teachers tournament.  After the appropriate channels were traversed, it was agreed that prom could move to Gaffer’s for the big show, and then move back to their original venue.  Only on Ocracoke.  The kids arrived in their finest and were applauded with great gusto; we all loved getting a chance to see them dressed up.  The regular “table of honor” was handed cheerfully over to the prom entourage.  Suddenly, the words “This is Jeopardy!” rang out from the speakers, and the restaurant went crazy.

Fifteen minutes into the show, I realized I was unashamedly grinning ear-to-ear.  I tried to rein it in, I really did.  But the second I stopped focusing on controlling those muscles, that smile just rolled right across my face.  It seemed my poker face had finally fizzled out.  I don’t think many noticed, and, honestly, at this point it didn’t matter.  When Final Jeopardy came on, the air was electrified and crackling with excitement and nerves.  The expectant hush that fell over the bar when Trebek came to Charles for his answer sucked the last remaining oxygen out of the room.  Gaffer’s was momentarily an anaerobic chamber, and people began to take on the slightest tinge of blue as they held their breath.

Wait, he got the answer wrong?  He lost?  A moment of confusion as everyone kept a slightly more relaxed hand on their balloon of excitement.  Why was the camera staying on Charles?  Why was Trebek congratulating him?  Suddenly, enlightenment.  His combined score was more than that of Larry or Lori’s.  He won!  (In actuality, he dominated the last episode – there was no hope for anyone to catch him!)

The sudden whoosh and roar that overtook Gaffer’s was awe-inspiring.  The raw amount of pride and love that issued forth from everyone reverberated back and forth, bouncing from wall to wall, growing in energy like a ripple into a tsunami.  I immediately had chills as I clapped my hands raw.  Sure, I had known the whole time, but now I really got to share and celebrate it with everyone.

That night was a neverending parade of phone calls, back-slaps, handshakes and hugs.  Oh, and pictures.  Lots and lots of pictures.  Charles Temple, Ocracoke High School English teacher, won Jeopardy’s first-ever Teachers Tournament, and everyone fairly swelled with pride that (not for the first time, of course) they could call him neighbor, teacher, relative, friend – one of their own.

And guess what?  He gets to do it all over again at Jeopardy’s Tournament of Champions!  And guess what else?  We’re not going to tell you what happens then either!  You’ll just have to wait and see, again!

“Until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

Chrisi


Charles and Chrisi on the Jeopardy set


The Players Celebrate


The Jeopardy set


Chrisi? Are you the next contestant?


One of the 18 TV's at Gaffers. Go, Charles!!


Friends and neighbors cheering for Charles at Gaffers.


The Ocracoke High School prom at Gaffers to support Charles.


Chrisi, Charles and Cyndi. Cyndi is Chrisi's mom and Housekeeping Supervisor for OIR.


Charles and Chrisi

Thanks for the pictures and the story, Chrisi!