ROCHESTER — John Hall learned two important things when he opened the door on April 15. One: he had just won $50,000 with Publishers Clearing House and two, that it’s best to put on shoes before answering the door, because there just may be a camera crew filming. 

“I don’t even have any shoes on!” was one of Hall’s first comments after he realized what was happening. 

The Rochester resident is a retired member of the Air Force, who also served as the last elected Treasurer in town for 10 years. He said that there are lot of good people in Rochester’s government. Hall plans to use the money to pay off some debts. 

“That will take most of it,” he explained. 

Publisher’s Clearing House sells magazine subscriptions and other merchandise to participants that enter its drawings for prizes between $1,000 and $1,000,000. The hugely popular company has around 10 million visitors to its online network monthly and also offers participants the chance to win by promotional mailings, apps, emails, or mail. 

Its representatives travel around North America, from Canada to California, delivering prizes to winners each week. 

Hall frequently enters the sweepstakes by mail because, as he says “this stuff just costs me a stamp.” 

Though Hall was taken by surprise at first, he also had some fun with the camera crew. When asked if he had anything else to say, he simply said, “hi camera!” 

The Hall family owns the Camp Snipatuit area along Snipatuit Road. Hall said that he was selected to look after his family’s property, and hopes to eventually start a non-profit around the land, to “have it go on to someone to use.”