Bill Gough of Edina was a student at Macalester College when he went to Irvine Park on a February morning to look for the medallion.
After 15 minutes of kicking snow, he found it wrapped in an “Erik Natural” cigar box and made a hasty exit from the park.
Gough won $1,500 and bought a stereo with the winnings. He still uses the turntable, he said.
The Pioneer Press is catching up with past Treasure Hunt winners and other medallion-seeking die-hards as the 60th hunt unfolds. From the camaraderie of the search to the thrill of finding the puck, everybody has their own story about this St. Paul tradition.
The 2012 hunt begins Jan. 22 and runs through Feb. 2 – unless someone finds the prize before then.
Copyright 2012 Pioneer Press.