Retired college professor plans to use windfall to help relatives, church and local kids
A Gwynn Oak resident plays Lottery games every day and his wife always tells him to put any winning ticket in a safe spot, no matter how small the prize. He purchased a $50,000-winning Show Me $50,000! scratch-off that went in a super safe top-secret spot until he could claim his prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.
The 90-year-old said he was home with wife when he started to look over his $5 instant ticket. At first, he thought he was only a $5,000 winner. His wife told him to add up the prizes beneath all of the winning numbers and suddenly, his total climbed to $50,000. Both of them, the winner said, were filled with joy.
“We both got excited,” he explained. “We have been married 65 years. When you are married for that long, you always get excited about everything together.”
The couple never had children but the winner plans to share some of his prize with nieces and nephews, his church and some of the children in his area. “There are a lot of kids in the neighborhood that need a helping hand and I want to help them,” he said.
The Baltimore County resident retired from his career as a professor at a local college in 1996. He still keeps in contact with former students, he said.
The lucky fellow found the winning scratch-off at Plaza Liquors located at 5722 Wabash Avenue in Baltimore City. For selling a top-prize winning scratch-off in the game, the store will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery.
The Show Me family of scratch-off games – $1, $2, $5 and $10 instant tickets – went on sale May 23 while the $20 scratch-off arrived in stores on April 18. Players can choose from a $1 Show Me $1,000! game, a $2 Show Me $10,000! game, a $5 Show Me $50,000! scratch-off, $10 Show Me $100,000! and a $20 Show Me $1,000,000! instant ticket. There are four more $50,000 top prizes remaining in the Show Me $50,000! game.
