RALEIGH – Robert and Valerie Murphy of Goldsboro described themselves as “happy campers” after matching all five white balls in last night’s Powerball drawing and winning a $1 million prize.

Robert, an electrician, was on his way home from work on Wednesday afternoon when he decided to play Powerball at the the Handy Mart on North Breazeale Avenue in Mount Olive. The couple learned of their big win on Thursday morning after checking their numbers on the lottery’s website.

“We’ve been pinching each other all day,” said Valerie, who works as an insurance agent. “We’re paying everything off. The house, the car, the boat…everything. I’m so excited.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, the Murphys received a check for $692,500.

“This just isn’t the sort of things that happen to average folks like us,” Robert said as the couple collected their winnings. “Not only does it give us a lot of relief, but now we get to do some traveling as well. We’re going to go somewhere we’ve never been before and stay for a while.”

The winning numbers for the $1 million prize were 24-36-51-52-56. The Powerball number was 22. The Murphys beat odds of 1 in 5.1 million to win the $1 million.
The Murphy’s win marks the fourth $1 million Powerball win in North Carolina since the current jackpot run began on Dec. 3. Rachel Hoilman of Newland matched all five white balls but not the red Powerball in the Jan. 3 drawing to win her big prize.

Two $1 million Powerball tickets purchased in North Carolina remain unclaimed. The first ticket, from the Christmas Eve drawing, was sold at the Harris Teeter on South Tryon Street in Charlotte. The second, from the Jan. 28 drawing, was purchased at the Murphy USA on Lincolnton Highway in Cherryville.

This Saturday’s Powerball jackpot annuity has climbed to $360 million annuity, the largest in the Powerball game in a year. The jackpot would be worth $250.5 million if claimed as a lump sum. North Carolina has had three Powerball jackpot winners who won between $74.5 million and $141.4 million.

For details on how more than $48.9 million in lottery funds have made a difference for specific education programs in Wayne County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. 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.