Army retiree, Korean War vet captures $1 million prize

Drawing Date: 9/18/2015

September 22, 2015 - The search is over for Maryland’s newest millionaire! A U.S. Army retiree and veteran of the Korean War stepped into the Maryland Lottery Winner’s Lounge on Tuesday, with his family in tow, after claiming the $1 million Mega Millions prize from the Sept. 18 drawing.

Only three players in the country matched five of the winning numbers in the Friday drawing to capture the second-tier prize. The other two players are in California and New Jersey. This is the second $1 million winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Maryland in 2015.

Our winner is a Baltimore County man who encountered his lucky ticket during a routine trip to the Giant supermarket in Owings Mills. The 73-year-old normally stops at the ATM for cash and continues to shop. He doesn’t always play Maryland Lottery games, he said, but when he does, this great-grandfather plays big!

On his lucky Thursday shopping trip, the longtime player bought five Mega Millions Quick Pick tickets for the Friday drawing. It wasn’t until Saturday evening, however, that he and one of his sons checked his numbers and realized his good fortune. The Owings Mills resident then hid the lucky ticket in a box at his home until he and his family could make it to Lottery headquarters today.

“My sons were more excited about it than I was,” said the veteran, who served this nation for more than 20 years. He is very glad, however, that he can now donate to the nonprofit organizations of his choice.

The happy winner has enjoyed an accomplished life. In addition to his military service, he worked for almost 20 years in civil service. He is the author of 10 books on Baltimore history and culture and a historian. One of the nonprofits that will benefit from his generosity is the Diggs-Johnson Museum in Granite, Md. He also plans to share his prize with his family, which consists of four sons and a daughter-in-law, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Celebrating his win with him is the Giant supermarket located at 9730 Groffs Mill Road in Owings Mills. For selling a second-tier winning ticket, the retailer receives a $2,500 bonus from the Lottery.