Medora resident buys ticket “on a whim” and wins $1 million

Drawing Date: 10/7/2014

November 7, 2014 - Medora, Ill., resident Cindy Thurm is a regular Mega Millions player and had already purchased her usual $1 Quick Pick ticket for the October 7 drawing when she decided to buy a second ticket. “On a whim, for no particular reason, I bought another one. I can’t believe I won a million dollars with that ticket!” The numbers on her Quick Pick ticket matched the first five numbers – 16 - 29 - 46 – 48 - 55 - (11) – to win $1 million in the Tuesday, October 7, Mega Millions drawing.  

Thurm discovered her win during a telephone conversation the day after the drawing. Her daughter, who lives in Texas, saw a posting on Facebook that a Medora gas station sold a $1 million winning Mega Millions ticket. “My daughter called to ask if I had checked my ticket and then she read the winning numbers to me. When I checked my second ticket and saw that it matched five numbers I started screaming into the phone, and into her ear!”

Thurm is married with five children and 11 grandchildren. She has lived in Medora for over 20 years and has worked at Global Brass and Coppers in East Alton for 10 years. Her plans for the windfall include paying off her mortgage and investing.

The winning ticket was purchased at Darr’s Pit Stop, 10974 Route 111 in Medora. Today, Illinois Lottery officials presented Thurm a ceremonial $1 million check to commemorate her big win.  Darr’s was presented a ceremonial check for their $10,000 bonus, 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket.