Federal Government Employee Takes Home the Second-Tier Prize
A Gaithersburg family man is $1 million richer, thanks to his decision to buy a quick-pick Powerball ticket for the Jan. 4 drawing. The married father of two, who won Maryland’s first second-tier Powerball prize of 2014, took the day off from his federal government job to claim his $1 million prize.
The grateful winner told Lottery officials that he played Powerball because of the growing jackpot, which had climbed to $60 million. He didn’t check his numbers all weekend and waited to do so until Monday night on his computer.
“I checked the ticket many times, but, to make sure it was not a mistake, I had my wife check it also,” he said. “When I called the numbers out to her, she thought I was playing.”
No one hit the jackpot in the multistate game and it rolled to $70 million for the Jan. 8 drawing. His winning ticket matched all five white balls, missing only the Power Ball number.
The soft-spoken winner said he feels a sense of responsibility to give back to his community and plans to donate some of his prize to his church. The 41-year-old plans to purchase an SUV for his wife to use for the family and make their 2014 vacation an extra special event. The Montgomery County resident also plans to invest some of the funds.
“I don’t want to lose this opportunity,” he said. “I have to make the money last.” He found his Lottery luck at the North Potomac Sunoco located at 10010 Darnestown Road in Rockville. The retailer will receive a $2,500 bonus for selling the second-tier prize-winning ticket.