Claims $50,000 top prize on Classic Crossword game
When students at a Cecil County school are called to the principal’s office in coming weeks, they may not encounter the stern expression they expect. The school official who claimed the top prize on a Maryland Lottery scratch-off certainly has 50,000 reasons to smile.
“When I realized what was happening, I just couldn’t believe it,” said the 55-year-old principal. He plays scratch-offs two or three times a week and purchased his $5 Classic Crossword instant ticket at Benjamins Grocery in Rising Sun while headed home.
“I looked at it and saw eight words revealed, a $1,000 win – which was pretty cool,” he said. A second look changed the size of his win considerably. “I then noticed two more words … $50,000 … utter disbelief!”
The husband and father tried several times to reach his wife, who was out with friends. She finally phoned back after noticing the missed calls and becoming worried that something was wrong.
“When I told her about the $50,000 she didn’t believe me,” said the Rising Sun resident. “It wasn’t until she got home and saw the ticket that she believed it was real.” The couple enjoyed a night of celebration and very little sleep.
They plan to add the winnings to an education fund for their collegebound daughter and upgrade an upcoming family vacation. The happy principal claimed the final top prize on the Classic Crossword game.
For selling a top-prize scratch-off, Benjamins Grocery at 598 Rising Sun Road in Rising Sun will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery.