March 20 drawing delivers win to Worcester County retiree
Big jackpots still whisper “Let Yourself Play” to a 70-year-old Snow Hill man who scaled back his play dramatically about a decade ago. Powerball’s recent jackpot run, one that climbed past $768 million, brought him to the Snow Hill Food Rite for a ticket for the Wednesday, March 20 drawing. The same $2 quick-pick ticket brought him to Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to claim a $50,000 prize on Wednesday.
The retired General Motors employee discovered his big win this earlier this week.
“I check my tickets once a week when Mega Millions or Powerball get big,” he said. “When I saw the win message, I thought it was a mistake.”
After asking a store employee to help confirm what he was seeing, the Eastern Shore resident headed outside to the car where his wife was waiting. “I didn’t believe him,” the lucky lady told Lottery officials. “I thought he was joking.” When he invited her to go back in with him to see for herself, she agreed. “I was sure that when we got out of the car that he’d end the joke, but no. When I scanned the ticket I was speechless.”
The shock they experienced at the grocery at 308 East Market Street in Snow Hill did not diminish in the several days it took to claim their prize. “It’s just so different from anything that’s happened to either of us before. I buy these tickets but never really think any significant money will come of it,” said the happy winner.
The Worcester County couple plan to wait a few weeks before deciding on their plans for the $50,000 Powerball prize. The windfall could go to home improvements or travel or maybe to both! What they are sure of right now is that they’ll stick to their “big jackpot” plan. “You can expect a couple dollars from us whenever one of the jackpot games gets big,” he said, “just in case lightning strikes twice.”