Joseph Greer of Boone received a big boost for his retirement plan after he won a $100,000 prize in a second-chance drawing.

“This will help a whole lot,” he said.

Greer, an appliance repairman for 40 years, plans to put the majority of his winnings toward his retirement. He said he could hardly believe it when he got the notification that he won.

“I about passed out,” Greer recalled. “It was pretty crazy.”

He won his prize in the second of four $8 Million Money Maker Second Chance drawings. There were 979,465 total entries in the drawing.

“I’m tired of eating the thin bologna,” Greer laughed, “I want the thick bologna now.”

He arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $71,750.

“I’m still in awe,” Greer said.

Players get a second chance with their $8 Million Money Maker scratch-offs by scanning them into their lottery accounts where they are automatically entered into the drawing. The drawing had one top prize of $1 million, three $100,000 prizes, 10 $25,000 winners and 50 winners of $500.

For details on how $2.5 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Watauga County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.