Ackerman was relieved to give up the odd present, which was donated to the Salvation Army along with other entries. Ackerman got the present in an office gift exchange.
“I think I can kind of stagger to the bathroom,” he said. “I don’t know who can use it or how, but someone will.”
The Wednesday morning contest included other unusual gifts: A sweat shirt made from recycled lint, multicolored slippers and an ornate candy bowl. Fontana resident Heather Jensen won $250 for her second-place entry, a talking picture frame from her cousin.
She wasn’t upset about placing second behind Ackerman.
“That was the worst,” she said of the urinal. “He deserves that (money).”
Mall spokeswoman Sue Palacios was philosophical about the portable urinal.
“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” she said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 28, 2001. Read the original PDF.