A Frederick County retiree from the small town of Tuscarora is celebrating a big Maryland Lottery win today, thanks to his lucky numbers. The 60-year-old claimed the $50,000 top prize on the popular Bonus Match 5 game.
The loyal Lottery player routinely purchases his tickets for the week on Sundays. He did so this past Sunday at the One Stop Deli located at 1595 East Bowis Drive in Point of Rocks. Using his lucky numbers, which are family birthdays, the determined man played 1, 12, 26, 30 and 35 for seven days of drawings. He headed home and later checked his $7 ticket on the Maryland Lottery’s website. What he saw was mind-boggling — he won big on the Sunday, July 15 drawing!
“I scrolled down and saw some familiar numbers,” said the winner. “I said, ‘Oh, good,’ but it still was quite surreal.”
The retired Montgomery County Public Schools employee decided not to wake his sleeping wife with his good news. Instead, he waited until morning -to share news of his good fortune.
“I checked those numbers three times,” said the winner’s wife. “When he showed me how much he won, I still couldn’t believe it.” The father and grandfather also checked the date and the numbers on his ticket a few more times, just to make sure he held a top-prize winner.
“I really didn’t believe it was real until today,” he said. “Now, we can celebrate.”
The lucky player plans to donate some of the winnings to charity, pay bills with his prize and renovate the couple’s kitchen. The winner’s wife also plans to give a hefty tip to a waitress who constantly gives them excellent service whenever they visit their favorite restaurant.
Also getting a big tip — from the Lottery — is One Stop Deli. For selling the top-prize winning ticket in the July 15 drawing, the lucky Lottery retailer earns a $500 bonus from the Lottery.