This story was produced by Matt Tunseth for Mat-Su Sentinel and the Anchorage Press.
What you need to know:
- Ron Clarke, a 70-year-old trivia buff from Chickaloon, defeated three-time champion Greg Monson in a rare “Jeopardy!” tiebreaker, taking home $18,200 on the Oct. 13 episode.
- Clarke credits his success to a lifetime of varied experiences, including stints as a wildlife biologist, commercial fisherman, public radio DJ and political aide. A lifelong fan of the show, he first auditioned in 1989 before finally realizing his dream decades later.
- Clarke brought his trademark humor and Alaska pride to the show, sporting a pin depicting Binky the polar bear and ending his run with a playful Monty Python reference.
- Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.
Jerry Garcia, the Kids in the Hall and Binky the polar bear.
If you answered, “What are some of the eclectic pop culture references that might come up during a conversation with trivia wizard Ron Clarke?” you are correct…