I'd Like to Buy a Vowel

Operations Manager Sonny Clair represents TVA and Veterans on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Sonny Clair has a unique claim to fame – appearing on the longest-running syndicated game show, “Wheel of Fortune."

“I was watching game shows on television one night,” Clair said. “I thought, ‘What if I give this a try?’ So, I started searching for audition opportunities. A couple months later, I got a call back.”

By day, Clair is operations manager at John Sevier Combined Cycle Plant, overseeing a team of 18 technicians. He’s passionate about leadership and fostering a respectful, collaborative environment.

“I don’t want my team to follow direction blindly,” he said. “I want to empower them to ask questions. In the end, I want to help them grow their careers.”

In the same manner he pushes his team toward open dialogue and growth, Clair also pushes himself to try new things. In addition to being on “Wheel of Fortune," he plays vintage baseball. Era-specific canvas shirts, no gloves and slightly different rules push him out of his comfort zone.

The bright lights of “Wheel of Fortune” pushed him out of his comfort zone, too. After multiple auditions, he was selected for the “Salute to Veterans” episode. Being a Navy Veteran is another item on Clair's list of accomplishments – and something that drew him to TVA.

“Some of my buddies told me to check out TVA,” Clair said. He lived in Indiana at the time and decided a career at the nation's largest public power provider sounded like an exciting opportunity. “I couldn't be happier with where I work. TVA takes care of its Veterans.”

Clair shared some behind-the-scenes moments from his time in Los Angeles, where the game show was filmed. A large group of Veterans gathered on set, and several episodes were filmed back-to-back. Clair was the first to film what he called one of the most exciting 23 minutes of his life – besides marrying his wife, of course.

He and his fellow contestants rehearsed the enunciation of letters, practiced spinning the wheel and even got to meet Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White before the show.

“They were such genuinely nice people,” Clair said. “They told us how much they appreciated our service and that they hoped we won a lot of money.”

When asked about a puzzle he solved, Clair threw his head back and laughed.

“I solved the word micromanager,” he said.

Clair appeared on the Nov. 10, 2025, episode of Wheel of Fortune, which streams on Peacock.