Claims one of the game’s three top-prize wins of the week
A 77-year-old former soldier and U.S. Department of Defense official kept his celebration quiet and under the radar while claiming his $50,000 Maryland Lottery Bonus Match 5 prize at Lottery headquarters.
The Frederick man told Lottery officials that he’s a calm, low-key fellow and very happy that good fortune smiled on him.
“I was visiting a friend on Monday and when I walked out of his store, I noticed a Lottery sign next door so I went in,” he said. The Frederick County man bought one Bonus Match 5 ticket for the May 1 drawing while at Willow Tree Liquors in Frederick. He put the lucky ticket in his wallet and thought no more about it until the next morning, when he was reading the newspaper.
“I saw the Lottery section and remembered the ticket I’d bought,” he said. Seeing his quick-pick numbers matched with the winning numbers, he quietly called to his wife, “Honey, I think we might have won this time.”
The father of four adult children told officials that he remained calm the entire time. “My wife and I are quiet people,” he said. “Excited as we are, we don’t get too crazy about things like this.”
They will use their winnings to augment their savings. “We’ve been blessed in lots of ways over the years, but this win sure does help us feel more comfortable about the future.”
The winning ticket from the May 1 drawing, purchased from Willow Tree Liquors at 5 Willowdale Drive, is one of three top-prize wins for the Bonus Match 5 game in a week. For selling the top-prize ticket in the game, the retailer receives a $500 bonus from the Lottery.