Detroit man wins $1 million prize

Drawing Date: 4/17/2015

April 30, 2015 - A Detroit man is on the fast track to retirement after winning $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s Mega Millions game.

Fred Morgan matched the first five winning numbers – 15-18-29-41-50 – drawn on April 17 to win the big prize. He bought his winning ticket at the Mobil gas station, located at 25828 Ford Road in Dearborn Heights.

“I checked my ticket the day after the drawing and it wouldn’t scan in the self-scanner,” said Morgan. “I asked the clerk to check it for me and he said: ‘It looks like you’ve got something here, you’d better sign it.’

“I left thinking I’d won $10,000 and called my wife on my way home to share the good news. I looked at the prize table when I got home and I was speechless.”

Morgan was in shock and couldn’t believe he was a millionaire.

“I felt full all over and couldn’t eat or sleep for three days,” he said.

Morgan and his wife hid the winning ticket in various spots around their home, including in a container of flour, while they put together a financial plan before claiming the prize.

“We watched that ticket carefully,” said Morgan. “We thought somebody may look in the sugar jar, but no one would ever check for anything valuable in the flour.”

A letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 31 years, Morgan’s big win has accelerated his retirement plans.

“I started cleaning out my locker at work and my boss asked me what was going on,” said Morgan. “I told him ‘I got a million and I’m retiring!’

“At first, he and my co-workers thought I was joking, but they couldn’t be happier about my good fortune.”

After retirement, Morgan and his wife plan to travel and enjoy life.

“I can’t even really put into words how this feels, but I do know I feel relieved and excited!”