KGO-CHANNEL 7 (SAN FRANCISCO) -- San Francisco State English Professor Jim Gilligan tried out over 20 times to get on the show. He made it on Trebek’s final broadcast.
“I’ve been trying for over 30 years, and I’m glad I never gave up because not only that I got to meet Alex, who is an icon in the industry and one of the world’s classiest men, but I got to be on his final show, which is pretty special,” he said.
“I was struck with such admiration for him that he would continue to do it, not only after he'd been diagnosed, but you know, he did not miss a show in the two years that he'd been battling pancreatic cancer,” Gilligan added.
“I knew it was a struggle for him, but he did not let that affect his performance. Once the cameras started rolling, he was giving it everything he had.”