RALEIGH – A sales representative from Nebo won $1 million to become the third McDowell County player to win $1 million or more this month.

After work last night, Russell Guffey stopped at Samirs on U.S. 70 East in Nebo and bought a $20 ticket for the $200 Million Blowout game. He scratched it off in the store – and was shocked to win $1 million.

“That was all she wrote,” the Marion-area native said Thursday morning at lottery headquarters. “I’m 47. I can’t retire, but I can take a year off.”

Last Wednesday, Jack Piercy Jr., a retired locomotive engineer from Old Fort, won $1 million on a ticket for the $1,000,000 Jackpot game. Two days later Carl Hooper, a manufacturing worker from Marion, won $4 million playing 100X The Cash.

Guffey could have claimed his $1 million prize in 20 annuity payments of $50,000 but opted for the $600,000 lump sum. He said he would take his time planning how to spend the $415,506 in after-tax winnings.

“Got to be intelligent about it,” Guffey said. “I’m sure I’ll go on some vacations, probably buy a boat. Have a little fun.”

As of Thursday morning, 12 prizes of $1 million and three top prizes of $4 million remain to be claimed in the $200 Million Blowout game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. For details on how more than $13.8 million in lottery funds have made a difference for specific education programs in McDowell County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.