“Come on down!” is a phrase most recognize from the long-running television gameshow “The Price is Right.” For 93-year-old Paul Arceneaux, though, those three words bring a smile and countless memories from a lifetime of chasing adventure. The Calder Woods resident was a contestant on the popular show in 1985 and ended up winning $16,000 worth of prizes—equivalent to nearly $38,000 today. “It sounded interesting, so we went to get tickets to the show,” remembers Arceneaux. “It turned out to be quite a deal!” The winnings, including a handcrafted television cabinet, a washer and dryer and a lounge chair, were all delivered to his home in Lumberton, Texas. But for Arceneaux, the best prize was gaining one more experience to add to his list of accomplishments. A native of Church Point, La., Arceneaux retired from the U.S. Postal Service at age 55 after 35 years of service. Shortly after, he and his wife lived out of their travel trailer for 20 years, visiting 49 states and multiple Canadian provinces. Along the way, he made it a point to experience as many adventures as possible. Even while in Los Angeles for the now famous “Price is Right” appearance, he and his wife attended the Rose Parade and nearly 20 live show tapings, including “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and “The Merv Griffin Show.” Travel, Arceneaux said, is a natural part of his life. “I always wanted to travel,” Arceneaux said. “I traveled the whole Pacific Ocean while serving in WWII, and even though I was just a kid then, it boosted me to want to see everything I could.” Today, Arceneaux has 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. They frequently visit the travel trailer together for family gatherings. And while he doesn’t travel much anymore, he’s enjoying his home at the new Calder Woods garden apartment homes where he still watches “The Price is Right” nearly every day.
Game show winner finds home at Calder Woods
