RALEIGH – George Johnson, a retired college accounting professor from Greensboro, said he has played the same set of numbers based on his anniversary and family birthdays since the lottery started. His persistence paid off on July 20 when he matched all five white balls in the Mega Millions drawing, winning a $250,000 prize.

Johnson learned of his win when he checked his numbers on the lottery’s website.

“I never really thought that I’d win,” Johnson said. “So when I saw those numbers come up, I got so excited. Nothing is going to change in my daily routine because of this, but it still feels good.”

Johnson plans to split his winnings with his wife. After taxes, they each received a payment of $85,000. They plan to use their winnings to take care of family and plan a cruise vacation.

“We’ve been on a number of cruises over the years and we’ve always stayed in the inside cabins,” Johnson added as he received his winnings. “Those days are gone.”

Johnson purchased his winning Mega Millions ticket at the Lowe’s Foods on Old Ridge Road in Greensboro.

Since the lottery began through June 30, 2011, Guilford County education programs received more than $102.1 million in lottery funds. By law, those funds pay for teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction, prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

To date, the N.C. Education Lottery has raised more than $2.45 billion for these initiatives statewide.