An 80-year-old Harford County retiree and his wife have been playing the Maryland Lottery together for nearly four decades, and it was a forgettable Powerball ticket purchase on June 20 that gave them an unforgettable $100,000 payday.
The winner said July 10 when he claimed the prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore that he and his wife have enjoyed playing together since 1989. Whether buying scratch-offs or Powerball tickets, they have always played for fun and occasionally celebrated smaller prizes.
“We’ve won a few times over the years,” the winner said. “We usually end up with a few bucks, but this win feels different.”
He bought the winning Powerball ticket during a stop at the Royal Farms at 630 Edgewood Road in Edgewood while out running errands. After the drawing that evening, his wife checked the winning numbers online and compared them with what they had purchased.
Convinced they had a big winner; she insisted her husband return to the store immediately to verify the ticket. She was right, as the store confirmed the $100,000 win.
The two said they were left speechless.
Asked how they plan to spend their windfall, the winner said the money will help pay bills and allow them to continue enjoying retirement.
Despite the stunning win, the couple has no plans to change their Lottery routine.
“We’ll always play,” the winner said. “We love playing the Lottery.”
