Retired Construction Worker Builds New Powerball Fortune

Claims $150,000 prize in Jan. 3 drawing

A retired construction worker is building a new future after his $150,000 Powerball win in the Jan. 3 drawing.

The excited Prince Frederick man, who claimed his prize at Lottery headquarters this week, bought his lucky Quick-Pick ticket at Spirits of Calvert in Prince Frederick. He headed to the store right after dinner on the night of the drawing to try his luck. The 67-year-old said the store clerk inadvertently charged him for the Power Play feature – an error in his favor, as it turned out. “After I saw the mistake, I figured I’d just keep the ticket anyway,” the winner said.

Several weeks went by and the forgotten ticket remained buried in his wallet. When the loyal player spotted it one day, he returned to Spirits of Calvert at 73 Sherry Lane to check his ticket against the Jan. 3 winning numbers. Those numbers were 2, 18, 37, 39, 42 and Powerball 12 with a 3x Power Play multiplier.

“When the clerk told me I was a big winner, I thought I had only won about $40 or $50,” he said. “Can you imagine my shock when he told me that my ticket was too much for him to cash? I was floored.”

The happy winner plans to buy a new house with his wife of 40 years. “This is such a blessing for us,” he said. “We’ve wanted to buy a house to call home for a few years. We’ll be able to, now, with this Powerball win.”