LEXINGTON, Ky. – Millions of people watched Jeopardy! every weeknight on television in the 36 years since Alex Trebek became the host of the answer-and-question game show. Others, including many from Kentucky, were lucky enough to meet him while competing as a contestant. Trebek died Sunday, Nov. 8, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old.   

Zach Atwell, of Lexington, is now a student at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law but was a senior economics major at UK in February of 2017 when he appeared on the show’s College Championship quarterfinals. He was just the second UK student to appear on the show.  

“Alex was exactly like how he presented himself on the show – refined, polite, kind, and humorous,” Atwell said. “He liked to have fun with contestants and audience members.” 

Atwell said Trebek took questions from the audience during commercial breaks and recalls an exchange after the host was asked what he does in his free time and with all his money. 

“He responded, a bit playfully, that he didn’t spend money on much aside from good wine, and that his free time was spent mostly on doing side projects on his home,” Atwell said. “I was able to witness Alex in attire other than his usual suit and tie, which was pretty funny to see.” 

Atwell said he had always pictured Trebek clad in well-tailored suits, just as most fans, but during his day of taping, Trebek entered quietly into the studio wearing some well worn-in jeans and a T-shirt. 

“It was another example of his humorous personality,” Atwell said. “He playfully put a finger to his lip as if to say ‘shh’ when the other contestants and I spotted him walking in.”

Allison Cuyjet, of Louisville, is a software quality assurance analyst who appeared on Jeopardy! this past February.

Late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, left, with contestant and Louisville resident Allison Cuyjet. (Submitted photo)

 “I was a one-and-done,” Cuyjet said. “They tape five shows a day, and I was on the fourth, so I was there for the whole taping day and just getting to just be there. My interaction [with Trebek] during the show was pretty much what you see in the episode, though they did edit our conversation down a little, we chatted for a little bit longer than that. It was unique being in the audience and getting to hear him talk during commercial breaks about his life and answer questions.” 

Cuyjet remembered Trebek having the ability to put the contestants at ease in what she called a high-pressure and fast-paced situation. 

“He really had a way of making people feel comfortable and I'll always remember that,” she said. “I wasn't expecting him to be as funny as he was and you can tell he’s just such a professional and such a hard worker. And I mean, it's just the engine behind how successful that show has been for decades.”