Fort Mill veteran Brent Lofton on the set of Wheel of Fortune

    If you’re a fan of the Wheel of Fortune, you may have seen a veteran from Fort Mill competing on Wednesday night and winning cash and prizes.

   Brent Lofton, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Fort Mill, appeared on Wheel of Fortune on Wednesday night. (7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, NBC Charlotte).

(Scroll to bottom to find out what he won!)

   According to a press release, Lofton was part of the show’s Veteran’s Week, featuring veterans from all branches of the military as contestants. As part of this week-long salute to those who served, including Pat Sajak, the veteran contestants have been competing to win once-in-a-lifetime vacations, new cars, and cash prizes by spinning the Wheel and solving hangman-style puzzles!

   Background. Lofton was inspired to serve as a Marine by his military family members. His uncle was in the Navy and his brother was in the Army. Brent attended Boot Camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and attended supply school at Camp Johnson in Jacksonville, N.C.

   After graduating, he was stationed at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station on Kaneohe, Hawaii, as an E-3 Lance Corporal. His proudest moments during his service included being in uniform when off base, letting civilians know how proud he was to serve and protect them, earing the title of “Marine” and singing the Marine Hymn with his platoon.

    In his free time, Lofton watches the University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball team as a season ticket holder and volunteers as the announcer for Springfield Middle School Football games. He is also very proud to be going toe to toe with other veterans playing Wheel of Fortune.

    Lofton told producers that he was excited to meet Pat and Vanna and with any winnings, planned on traveling and donating to causes close to his heart.

(Lofton won a total of $18,650 in cash and prizes including a trip to Puerto Rico! He made it to the bonus round, where he was unable to solve the puzzle: SQUEAKY HINGES. He would have won $45,000 if he had solved it.)

Greg "Ricky Bobby" Rickabaugh has lived in the Fort Mill and York County community since 2006. He has covered the area while a reporter for The Charlotte Observer and a freelance writer for The Fort Mill...