Holiday $1 million for happy Arizona player

Drawing Date: 12/20/2013

December 23, 2013 - The Arizona Lottery announces that a Payson resident has claimed the $1 million second place Mega Millions prize from the drawing on Friday, December 20. This is the first $1 million Mega Millions second prize winning ticket sold in Arizona since the Mega Millions game was redesigned in October.

Fred Wagenhals of Payson purchased his Mega Millions ticket at Giant located at 2010 N. Beeline Hwy. for the December 20 drawing. He left the ticket with his brother, before leaving town to drive to Scottsdale. A couple of days later, Fred’s brother called to tell him he had a winning ticket and that the ticket was worth $1 million. Fred was so excited that he drove to Payson to get the ticket and back to Phoenix the same day. He redeemed his ticket at the Arizona Lottery office in Phoenix accompanied by his son. Fred had purchased several tickets and used his own numbers, which were those of his favorite NASCAR drivers.

Fred Wagenhals moved to Arizona around 1978 from the Midwest. He loves the climate here and is semi-retired, but still goes to work every day. He and his son work together in commercial development. Fred plans to invest his winnings and intends to keep playing Mega Millions.