CHICAGO — Linda Kollmeyer, the woman with the perma-smile who presided over the drawing of the winning Illinois Lottery numbers for decades, drew her last numbers on WGN-TV Wednesday night ... and it was kind of sad.
No, she never relinquished her smile or broke down in tears. But the end of the live drawings on WGN-TV was depressing as Kollmeyer gave a goodbye speech ... and it was cut off when WGN put the lottery sponsors' graphics on the screen.
You could still hear her talking, but it was like when an Oscar winner goes too long and the band starts playing.
The Illinois Lottery, which hasn't been paying out winners in recent days while the state is mired in a budget crisis, is moving its drawings online. Wednesday night was the last one on WGN.
"For over 26 glorious years, I had the time of my life sharing with you, the Illinois Lottery players, and everyone here at WGN, both on camera and behind camera, moments of joy during Illinois Lottery game shows, Illinois Lottery daily drawings, personal appearances. And together all of us dreamed of faith, hope and love," Kollmeyer said before she was covered up.
"And guess what? Every one of you is a winner. You know why? Because you've got it in your hearts. I'm Linda Kollmeyer. This is not goodbye. Illinois Lottery is going online tomorrow. This is just, I'm Linda Kollmeyer, good luck and good night."
WGN News anchor Micah Materre said they asked Kollmeyer to come on the air and talk about the finale, which she declined at first, saying she "was so sentimental, she said she thought she would tear up and didn't want to." Later, Kollmeyer obliged the hosts and joined them to discuss the end of an era.
Fellow anchor Mark Suppelsa confirmed Kollmeyer kept that sunny disposition when the camera turned off.
"You know, sometimes silly, always positive, alway upbeat, always so warm and caring. Everybody in the building loved her," he said.
Added Materre: "Just what you see, that's exactly what she is. We love you, Linda."
Considering almost everyone watching Kollmeyer was in the process of learning they were a loser that night, her upbeat words were like a consolation prize, a pat on the back.
There's no way those robots picking the numbers will smile at us like Linda Kollmeyer.
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