 The “Lucky Ducks” from Ellicott City won $50,000 in the Jan. 13 Powerball drawing |
Winner and his wife plan to use prize to help their family
A longtime Maryland Lottery enthusiast from Ellicott City landed the biggest prize of his life in the world-record Powerball jackpot drawing on Jan. 13.
While the retiree didn’t hit the $1.6 billion jackpot, he and his wife were all smiles as they claimed their $50,000 prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore on Jan. 15. They had one of 24 tickets sold in Maryland that won $50,000 in the Jan. 13 drawing.
This “lucky duck” is a retired federal government employee and his wife works part time as a government contractor. The 78-year-old had four lines of numbers on separate tickets for the record-setting Powerball jackpot drawing. One of his tickets, purchased at the Safeway #1489 at 4370 Montgomery Road in Ellicott City, matched four of the white balls and the Power Ball.
He was watching the drawing as it aired live on WBAL-TV.
“I had to look at the tickets a couple of times,” he said. “I got all but one number. I couldn’t believe it. I said, ‘I’ll believe when I cash it.’ I’ve been playing the Lottery a long time. I’ve won $300 once or twice playing Pick 3 and Pick 4, but never anything this big.”
The winner and his wife have been married 17 years. Each has two children and there are six grandchildren in the family.
“We’re going to help the kids,” said the winner’s wife. “My son said, ‘Take a cruise. Buy a convertible.’ But I said, ‘Nah.’ We’re going to help the kids.”
In addition to the 24 $50,000 winners, the Jan. 13 Powerball drawing produced three $1 million winners in Maryland and one $100,000 winner.