5 fun facts about Bessemer’s own Jeopardy! champ

Clue: In 2025, this Bessemer local turned decades of random knowledge—and a seriously attention-grabbing beard— into big Jeopardy! bucks.

Answer: Who is Dargan Ware.

After nearly 30 years of trying, Dargan finally snagged a spot on the Alex Trek stage—winning two games, pocketing $47,801 and proving that shouting answers at your TV can actually pay off. 

We talked with Dargan to get the inside scoop on his gameshow journey, his most memorable “oops” moments and what it’s like to be a local Jeopardy! champion. 

1. His trivia roots started with encyclopedias + a cash incentive

Remember encyclopedias? The hardback wonders that held the world’s knowledge before Google existed?

Usually, they’d sit on a shelf collecting dust. For Dargan, these heavy books were the start of a lifetime love of knowledge and his journey to the Jeopardy! stage.  

At the age of 12, Dargan’s grandma challenged him to read encyclopedias for $10 a volume—followed by a quiz on what he learned.  

Add in an eighth grade junior high quiz bowl and you’ve got the spark that launched a future Jeopardy! champ. 

2. His academic smarts are as impressive as his buzzer speed

What do you get when you study encyclopedias as a kid? Big smarts!

Dargan studied medieval history at the University of Arkansas (yes, he really knows about knights and castles!).

He went on to take the LSAT and attend University of Alabama School of Law, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. 

Now he’s a consumer protection lawyer at Davis and Norris in Birmingham, proving he can handle both tricky trivia and high-stakes legal battles. Basically, he was built for brains and buzzer speed. 

3. Nearly 30 years of persistence pays off

If you usually quit after failing a time or two, Dargan’s story will show you persistence in key to Jeopardy! He first auditioned for the show back in 1996—and kept at it for decades. 

The payoff came in September 2025 when he participated his first competition in Los Angeles. He won two games, taking home $47,801—proof that sticking with a dream can pay off, even if it takes you nearly 30 years!

4. The Jeopardy! stage is fast, tricky + unforgettable

If you think watching Jeopardy! is intense, try being on stage. Dargan told us the game moves so fast that picking categories can become automatic, leaving little time to think before you choose.

We asked if there were any clues he missed that still stick with him.

“Quite a few. I missed a question on Ms. Marple, because they put a picture of Angela Lansbury up there and I pavlov-reacted with Jessica Fletcher, from one of my mother’s favorite shows. I still feel bad about that one.”

Dargan Ware

Later, he competed against past winners in a championship game (aired on January 6), earning $3,200 in round one and $2,200 overall. Not a total win—but still a moment to remember.

5. He’s a writer, poet + Birmingham celebrity

One of the best moments of the Jeopardy! experience was watching his episodes air at Cahaba Brewing with 25–30 friends—including his Edgewood Presbyterian crew.

“I was truly moved by how many people contacted me and all their support, both before and after the shows aired. I’ve been recognized a few times at the grocery store, bank and also Cahaba Brewing.”

Dargan Ware

Dargan’s not just a trivia whiz. He’s an author, working on the sequel to his first book, “The Legacy of Colgan Toomey,” and the President of the Alabama State Poetry Society. You can also check out his second book “Old Soldiers Never Die.”

From writing to poetry to law to Jeopardy!, Dargan proves that a curious mind—and a lot of persistence—can take you anywhere you want to go.

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