RALEIGH – Robert Gallen, a retired textile plant engineer from Casar in Cleveland County, plans to use the $458,171 jackpot he won playing Carolina Cash 5 to purchase a second home in the mountains and save for his granddaughter’s future.

Gallen said he has used the same set of numbers to play lottery games for the past 14 years. His persistence paid off on Wednesday when he matched all five numbers in the Cash 5 drawing.

“I honestly don’t remember what was significant about those numbers,” Gallen said. “It could have been family birthdays or something else. I checked my ticket this morning and thought they looked familiar. I checked a couple more times and then hopped in the truck to make that long drive to Raleigh.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Gallen received a check for $317,055. He purchased the lucky ticket at Quick Pantry on West Mills Street in Columbus.

“I enjoy playing Cash 5 more than anything because it has the best odds of winning,” Gallen said as he collected his winnings. “Hitting the jackpot is a good feeling, but I never feel bad playing the lottery because I know the money is helping education.”

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.4 billion for the state. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how more than $35 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Cleveland County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.