BATESVILLE – July 7, 2014 – Billy E. Meeks was shooting off fireworks for friends and family last Friday night on his farm near Flora when his wife, Jannette, received a text message on her cell phone that he had won a new car in Citizens Bank’s “Celebrate America 2014” drawings on the Fourth of July in Riverside Park in Batesville.
“I’ve never won anything so I didn’t pay much attention to it, and just kept shooting fireworks,” Meeks said. “But we got more text messages, and then friends started calling me, saying, ‘Billy, you won the car!’ ”
Sure enough, Miss Batesville Rachel Roebuck had picked out an entry form with Meeks’ name on it during a live drawing in Riverside Park just before the “Celebrate America” fireworks.
Meeks said he was confused at first because he had not filled out an entry form. As a customer of the Citizens Bank, however, his name had been automatically entered in the giveaway contest 10 times for each of three personal accounts he holds with the bank.
“I was flabbergasted; I still don’t really believe it,” said Meeks, who was an Independence County sheriff’s deputy for nearly 24 years. He and his wife on Monday visited the Wood Family of dealerships in Batesville to select a car, truck or SUV from an assortment of vehicles with a similar value. They selected a bright red 2014 Chevrolet Equinox, one of the best selling SUVs in America and a 2014 top safety pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Two additional “Celebrate America” prizes also were awarded on the Fourth of July to Lanelle G. Wilmeth of Fox, who whose name was drawn as the winner of an Intimidator UTV, and Susan S. Hackney of Batesville, who won a 60-inch Bad Boy riding mower.
Citizens Bank conducted a six-week promotion, attracting nearly 12,000 paper entries, plus the 10 entries that bank customers automatically received for each personal account they own.
“We want to thank the Wood Family of dealerships, Intimidator and Bad Boy for participating in our unique promotion,” said Phil Baldwin, Citizens Bank President and Chief Executive Officer. “We also appreciate all of our ‘Celebrate America’ sponsors for their support in making the entire day possible.”
