By DAVID CLOUSTON

Salina Journal

He wants to be as gracious in losing as he was exuberant about winning, which is why Thursday was a day of mixed emotions for Salinan Bill Weaver.

Weaver thought for a few hours Wednesday that he had won a state contest to design a new personalized license plate, only to find the Department of Revenue notified the wrong artist.

The winner was actually Rick Moon of Topeka, who was selected by a public vote using either paper ballots or a department Web site. Weaver got an apology from revenue and motor vehicle division officials. His design actually placed third.

"Who I really feel sorry for is Mr. Moon. This day should be a day of celebration for him, and it's all muddy. It's got this black cloud hanging over this whole thing. I feel sorry. I congratulate him -- the best man won, but I wish it had been under different circumstances," Weaver said Thursday.

The license plate contest mix-up story was picked up by news media statewide and nationally. Weaver did interviews with three area television stations Thursday morning. The video production manager at Mid-America Productions, 1510 E. Iron, called it a "sleepwalk day" at work.

E-mails from friends and acquaintances came in offering condolences to Weaver for missing out on the recognition.

"Right now, I just kind of want it to go away. I want to settle back into life," he said.

Windmills, wagon wheels

Moon's design of a Kansas sunset and windmill and the state seal was the design that more than 83,000 voters picked as the winner of the contest. More than 200,000 votes were cast for five designs. The designs were selected by judges from more than 100 submissions.

Freda Warfield, spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue, said in an e-mail Thursday that department officials were unable to reach Moon by phone and had sent him a letter to tell him he'd won.

The second place design went to Marcos Armendoriz, Kansas City, Kan., who made a presentation with the state seal, wagon wheels and windmills.

The Revenue Department's Web site did not show any information Thursday concerning the contest or the winners. An announcement with the erroneous winner information was put up Wednesday and then quickly taken down.

Although officials Wednesday discussed some possible recognition method to try to soothe any hard feelings by the design finalists about the agency's mistake, there was no news about that subject Thursday, Warfield said.

"One of the reporters asked me, would I ever enter another contest like this again? Right now, I'd say no. There'd be so much fear this thing is going to blow up in my face again," Weaver said. "On the other hand, I've had so much fun with this and the reaction from my friends and family -- yeah, I probably would."

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.

The winner was actually Rick Moon of Topeka, who was selected by a public vote using either paper ballots or a department Web site. Weaver got an apology from revenue and motor vehicle division officials. His design actually placed third.

"Who I really feel sorry for is Mr. Moon. This day should be a day of celebration for him, and it's all muddy. It's got this black cloud hanging over this whole thing. I feel sorry. I congratulate him -- the best man won, but I wish it had been under different circumstances," Weaver said Thursday.

The license plate contest mix-up story was picked up by news media statewide and nationally. Weaver did interviews with three area television stations Thursday morning. The video production manager at Mid-America Productions, 1510 E. Iron, called it a "sleepwalk day" at work.

E-mails from friends and acquaintances came in offering condolences to Weaver for missing out on the recognition.

"Right now, I just kind of want it to go away. I want to settle back into life," he said.

Windmills, wagon wheels

Moon's design of a Kansas sunset and windmill and the state seal was the design that more than 83,000 voters picked as the winner of the contest. More than 200,000 votes were cast for five designs. The designs were selected by judges from more than 100 submissions.

Freda Warfield, spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue, said in an e-mail Thursday that department officials were unable to reach Moon by phone and had sent him a letter to tell him he'd won.

The second place design went to Marcos Armendoriz, Kansas City, Kan., who made a presentation with the state seal, wagon wheels and windmills.

The Revenue Department's Web site did not show any information Thursday concerning the contest or the winners. An announcement with the erroneous winner information was put up Wednesday and then quickly taken down.

Although officials Wednesday discussed some possible recognition method to try to soothe any hard feelings by the design finalists about the agency's mistake, there was no news about that subject Thursday, Warfield said.

"One of the reporters asked me, would I ever enter another contest like this again? Right now, I'd say no. There'd be so much fear this thing is going to blow up in my face again," Weaver said. "On the other hand, I've had so much fun with this and the reaction from my friends and family -- yeah, I probably would."

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.