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DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Lottery CEO Dr. Ed Stanek announced during Monday’s Iowa Lottery Board meeting that he intends to retire on Oct. 31. Stanek has led the Iowa Lottery since its start in 1985 and has worked in state government for 35 years.
Stanek, 61, released this statement regarding his retirement:
“Over the past 35 years I've had the privilege of serving four Iowa governors in
various cabinet capacities. Along the way, I've helped the state address some of its biggest
challenges.
During the outset of the environmental movement I was director of major environmental programs
in Iowa; I led the state's energy policy agency during the Arab Oil Embargo; and led planning and
programming in the governor's office during years of financial and farm crises.
Two governors appointed me as science advisor and I served on councils and task forces
regarding technology, telecommunications, the economy, job training, business, criminal justice and
natural resources among others.
For the past 22 years, I've thoroughly enjoyed providing Iowans with entertainment as CEO of
the Iowa Lottery. Iowans made their pro-lottery feelings known many years ago when they cast their
votes to change the state's constitution to allow a lottery. It has been my pleasure to design
many of the lottery games that have met the public's demand since the lottery's start in
1985, all with the highest degree of integrity and accountability.
I've been lucky enough to win the highest awards from a number of prestigious institutions
and have been president of the most prominent national and worldwide lottery organizations. My staff
and I at the Iowa Lottery have raised more than $1 billion for state programs. And, as one of the
inventors of the Powerball game, I've had a small hand in raising billions of dollars for other
states as well.
Today, I am the longest-serving lottery leader in the world. My signature is on hundreds of millions
of official state documents that are otherwise known as lottery tickets.
Having been a workaholic all my life, my family has convinced me to try the cure: retirement. I
look forward to the new challenges I'll find in retirement and eagerly await my first opportunity to
see the industry from the other side as a customer of the Iowa Lottery.”
The Iowa Lottery achieved a number of “firsts” under Stanek's leadership.
In 1985, the Iowa Lottery achieved the fastest start-up among U.S. lotteries at the time, beginning
ticket sales just 122 days from the signing of its enabling legislation. That same year, the lottery
became the first to have all electronic funds transfers to and from its retailers.
On Oct. 19, 1987, the Iowa Lottery became the first in the nation to sell pull-tab tickets, with the
games beginning as an experiment in seven counties. Pull-tabs were introduced statewide later in the
year.
On Feb. 11, 1988, sales in the multi-state Lotto*America game began in Iowa and six other states.
On April 19, 1992, the world-record-setting jackpot game of Powerball replaced Lotto*America in Iowa
and 14 other states, with jackpots starting at a guaranteed $2 million. Stanek was a co-designer of the
Powerball game.
In August 1991, the Iowa Lottery became the first in the nation to begin selling pull-tab tickets from
vending machines when 1,200 of the machines were distributed to retail locations throughout the state.
The Iowa Lottery marked an important milestone on Aug. 15, 1992, when total sales passed the $1
billion mark. And in March 2006, total Iowa Lottery profits to the state topped $1 billion.
Some other important “firsts” for the Iowa Lottery under Stanek's leadership:
- The lottery became the first in the nation to introduce an extended-play Bingo scratch game on
Nov. 16, 1992. Customers responded enthusiastically to the $2 game, which is played just like the
regular Bingo game. Bingo has gone on to become a regular scratch game for most if not all U.S.
lotteries.
- The Lottery became a presence on the Internet on Feb. 1, 1996, launching its Web site at
www.ialottery.com. Iowa won the World Lottery Association award for best lottery Web site in 2004.
- The Iowa Lottery became the first in the United States to offer a scratch game played on a
personal computer when sales in Treasure Tower began on Oct. 16, 2000. Combining a traditional
scratch game with CD-ROM technology, Treasure Tower also was the first lottery product to offer
built-in parental control.
- In October 2004, the Iowa Lottery became the first in the world to sell an electronic version of the
traditional instant-scratch game that packs dozens of plays onto a single card for more playing time.
Each card, about the size of a driver's license, is battery powered and loaded with dozens of
random plays. Three small LED screens on the front of the card display the symbols in a particular
play and show whether it has won a prize.
- In November 2001, the Iowa Lottery became the first lottery to have entries in its promotional
drawings accepted over the Internet. Iowa Lottery players went to the lottery Web site to key in the
serial numbers from nonwinning scratch tickets as their entries into the lottery's Hawkeye
Instant Hoopla promotion. The grand prize in the promotion was a trip for two to Atlanta with tickets to
the men's college basketball championship tournament.
- In July 2007, the Iowa Lottery became the first in the United States to begin regularly producing
its own videos for distribution to the media and for use on its own Web site. Video offerings on the
lottery's Web site now include everything from winner's stories and player mail segments
to behind-the-scenes looks at lottery events around the state.
- And on Monday, the Iowa and Kansas lotteries became the first in the nation to offer a joint
instant-scratch game. Players in both states are buying tickets and competing for prizes in the
“Midwest Millions” scratch game that will test the Powerball concept that has proven
so successful in lotto games.
Stanek received a bachelor of science degree in physics 1968 from St. Procopius College in Lisle,
Ill., before receiving a Ph.D. in physics in 1972 from Iowa State University. He received a gemology
diploma in 1994 from the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica, Calif.
Some of Stanek's accomplishments during his career have included:
Iowa Lottery - 1985 to Present
Chief Executive
-
Co-inventor of Powerball, the world’s most successful lotto game, which has annual sales of $3.5 billion.
- Organized the Multi-State Lottery Association – a consortium currently made up of 31 independent marketing and sales
organizations to cooperatively sell a variety of products.
- Developed a statewide sales network including 135 major corporate accounts and 2,600 stores with annual sales of more than $200 million with profits of more than $55 million.
- Raised more than $1 billion for State of Iowa programs.
- Established a well-recognized worldwide reputation for honesty, integrity, security, and efficiency.
- Was instrumental in new product introductions to benefit governments in Australia, Central and South America, and Europe.
Iowa Office for Planning and Programming
- 1981 to 1985
Executive Director
-
Member of the cabinet in this capacity for two successive governors.
- Coordinated the activities of multidisciplinary agencies.
Administered programs for job training, economic and demographic analysis.
- Directed state grants to cities and counties.
- Acted as the clearinghouse for federal grants to state, cities and counties ($1 billion annually).
- Provided legal and planning aid to cities and counties.
Iowa Energy Policy Council -1978 to 1981
Executive Director and Chairman
-
Chief executive and chairman of the board for the organization that set statewide energy policies during the major Oil Embargo and managed programs to avert crises.
-
Made Iowa No. 1 in the nation in oil conservation.
- Directed emergency fuel distributions to maintain public order.
- Conducted research on alternative fuels and fuel efficiency.
Iowa Department of Environmental Quality - 1973 to 1978
Director, Air and Land Quality Division – 1974 to 1978
- Managed all state government programs dealing with air pollution, radioactive and solid wastes.
- Negotiated programs with Iowa businesses leading to elimination of more than 90 percent of industrial air pollution.
- Organized Iowa’s first hazardous materials program.
- Scientifically linked epidemiological data to the development of meaningful environmental standards at both the state and federal level.
Chief of Planning and Administration, Air Quality Management Division - 1973 to 1974
Iowa Department of Health – 1972 to 1973
Environmental Specialist, Environmental Engineering Service
Iowa State University – 1968 to 1972
Physics instructor and researcher
BUSINESS AFFILIATIONS
- Multi-State Lottery Association
- Board of Directors 1987-present
- President 1989-1990
- Chairman, Development Committee 1997-2007
- Millennium, Inc.
- Board of Directors 1995-1997
- Wallace Technology Transfer Foundation
- Board of Directors 1989-1993
- Vice Chairman 1991-1993
- Physics and Astronomy Council (Iowa State University)
- Drake University National Commission II
- Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council
STATE BOARDS
- Governor's Science Advisory Council
- Intergovernmental Information Technology Task Force
- Telecommunications and Information
- 1986-1993
- Management Council Chairman 1989-1993
- Governor's Economic Advisory Council
- Federal Budget Task Force on Commerce and Industry
- State Job Training Coordinating Council
- Iowa Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations
- Governor's Management Advisory Council
- Iowa State Occupational Information
- Coordinating Committee Chairman 1982-1983
- Governor's Business Climate Task Force
- Interagency Coordinating Council
- Energy Policy Council
- Interagency Council on Criminal Justice Planning
- Interagency Coordinating Council on Radiation Safety
- Iowa Commission on the International Year of the Child
NATIONAL SERVICES
- National Governors' Association
-Consultant on Global Climate Change and Ozone Depletion
- National Governors' Association
-Subcommittee on Energy
- National Governors' Association Staff
-Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Renewable Resources
- National Governors' Association
-Synthetic Fuels Corporation Task Force
- Midwestern Governors' Conference
-Energy Task Force
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- World Lottery Association
- 1999-present
- Senior Vice President 2003-2005
- International Association of Lotto and Toto Organizations
- International Association of State Lotteries
- 1986-1999
- President 1991-1992
- Executive Committee 1991-1999
- North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries
- Board of Directors 1985-present
- Iowa Academy of Science, Recognition and Awards Committee
- Council of State Planning Agencies
- Council of State Community Affairs Agencies
- State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators
- Board of Directors 1976-1978
- National Physics Honor Society
- 1966-present
- local president 1967, 1968
PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS
- Terrace Hill Society Fine Arts and Curatorial Committees
- Terrace Hill Society
- Board of Directors 1980-1992
- Victorian Society of Iowa Foundation
- Terrace Hill Endowment for the Musical Arts
- Board of Directors 1989-1991
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
- Peter J. O'Connell Lifetime Achievement Award (1997). Recognized as most accomplished person
in the worldwide lottery industry.
- Lottery Hall of Fame, Inducted (2005).
- Multi-State Lottery Association Award (1994). For development of the Powerball game.
- PGRI Pioneer Awards (1987, 1989). For most innovative contribution to U.S. lottery industry.
- Iowa Academy of Science Distinguished Service Award (1990). For original scientific work in the
areas of energy and environmental protection.
- Award for Distinguished Service to State Government (1981). One of 10 persons selected
nationally by the National Governors' Association.
- State of Iowa Distinguished Service Award (1981). Given to one state employee.
- Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Citation of Merit
(2006). Highest
alumni award.
- Outstanding Young Man of America (1979). U.S. Jaycees.
- German Marshall Fund, U.S.-European Cultural Exchange (1984).
More than 100 awards relating to creative advertising and retailing.
PUBLICATIONS
Papers written by Stanek have been published in a wide cross-section of professional journals, including
Governmental Finance, Public Gaming, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, Journal of Applied Physics, and Applied Physics
Letters.
He has published several books on history and fine arts related topics, including: The Furniture
of John Henry Belter and the Rococo Revival, E.P. Dutton, New York, 1980; second edition 2007.
(John Henry Belter was an immigrant from Germany to the United States during the mid 19th century.
He progressed to become America's most outstanding cabinetmaker during the 1840-1863
period.)
Antiques and Art: Care and Restoration, Wallace Homestead Book Co., Chicago, 1978.
Iowa's Magnificent County Courthouses, Wallace Homestead Book Co., Chicago,
1976.
Additional articles and more than 900 photographs by Stanek of antique furniture have appeared in
many trade journals, including Antiques Magazine, The Antique Trader Weekly, Antique Monthly,
Nineteenth Century, Americana, and others.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Stanek also served as a museum consultant on exhibits of nineteenth-century American furniture.
A project partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts was on display at the Museum of Our
National Heritage, Cooper-Hewitt Museum, Chicago Art Institute, and the Louisiana Museum of Fine
Arts.
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