RALEIGH – Tim Murphy of Graham always buys two sets of numbers for the nightly Carolina Cash 5 drawing: One based on family birthdays and a Quick Pick. Wednesday night the birthday numbers won him the $175,673 jackpot.

“I recognized the numbers right off the bat,” recalled Murphy, who checked the drawing results in the newspaper. “I said, ‘Let me see how much I won.’”

Murphy saw on the lottery’s website that just one ticket sold in Graham matched all five numbers to win the entire jackpot. He bought his winning ticket at the Sheetz on South Main Street.

Murphy, who owns a construction business, said he planned to put most of his after-tax winnings of $121,654 in the bank. His wife Robin said they would also donate to charity.

Speaking of birthdays, the Murphy family has lots of them to celebrate. With three adult children, four grandchildren – and another grandchild on the way – there is always one around the corner. Later this month, the couple will also celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary.

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 $47.4 million in lottery funds have made a difference for specific education programs in Alamance County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.