Clifton Thomasson of Cary is one of two Cash 5 players who beat the odds of 1 in 575,757 in Sunday’s drawing to split $226,638.

Thomasson, who retired after spending almost 40 years in the shipping industry, said he couldn’t speak when he realized he won. “I just felt so lucky,” he said.

Once his win started to sink in, Thomasson was so excited he stayed up all night. He claimed his half of the jackpot, $113,319, Monday morning. After required state and federal tax withholdings he received $78,473. Thomasson plans to use the money to help with retirement.

Thomasson bought the $1 Quick Pick ticket at the Food Lion on Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville. The winner of the other half of the jackpot hasn’t claimed yet. That lucky ticket was sold at the Three Mile Quick Mart on Linville Falls Highway in Newland.

Ticket sales from games like Cash 5 made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how more than $330.9 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Wake County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” section of the lottery’s website.