Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 3, 1993 TAG: 9308030161
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"EZLVN," reads the tags on John O'Garra's 1993 Pace Arrow motor coach.
Easy living is probably an accurate statement for many of the thousands of recreation vehicle owners at the Family Motor Coach Convention on Virginia Tech's campus this week.
For O'Garra and family, though, a new motor home is just the beginning of their new-found financial freedom.
The Farmville family won a $5.8 million Lotto jackpot in January; one of their first major purchases, in April, was the $87,000 motor coach.
"It's not fancy, like some around here, but I guess it's pretty nice," O'Garra said.
Nice, indeed. The 37-foot coach is loaded with a washer and dryer, two televisions, a VCR, a microwave and a recliner.
"It's a little tight, but it will sleep six," said O'Garra's wife, Beverly.
She's also quick to point out that the family had the same license plate on the 1972 motor coach they sold this year, but admits that it's more appropriate now.
John O'Garra, 60, said the family couldn't have timed the Lotto win any better. The former U.S. Marine and federal police officer in Norfolk retired Dec. 31 and moved his family to Farmville, the home of Longwood College.
Less than a month later, they hit the jackpot.
"It was just unbelievable when it happened," he said. "I was crying."
The family hasn't changed from its penny-pinching ways, O'Garra said, but it's nice not having to worry about paying the bills.
"You can sleep easy," he said.
"I still clip coupons and shop at sales," his wife said.
In addition to the motor coach, O'Garra said he bought a Lincoln Town Car, 25 acres in Farmville and two double-wide trailers - one for him and his wife, and one for his 89-year-old father who moved from Norfolk.
O'Garra has been an FMCA member for years, but this is his first national convention and first trip to Blacksburg.
"We came from a small college town to a huge one," he said.
"This whole campus is about the size of Farmville," chipped in O'Garra's 26-year-old son, Jeff.
John O'Garra, who suffers from a breathing disorder that requires him to use a respirator when sleeping, is a member of FMCA's Achievers chapter, made up of more than 300 disabled members across the country.
O'Garra said he and his wife travel at least once a month and hope one day to drive the motor coach to Alaska.
He is enjoying the FMCA convention and said Blacksburg probably won't be his last.
"All the people here are just so friendly, it's great," he said.
By the time the Pace Arrow rolls into its next convention, Beverly O'Garra hopes to have a matching license plate for the 1983 Toyota hitched to the coach.
"We want it to say EZTOW," she said.
by CNB