Biggest and best lottery wins of 2014

Sometimes the story behind a big win is just as amazing as the prize that was won. So as we look forward to another great year of games, prizes and winners, let's take a second to remember some of the most notable North Carolina lottery winners of 2014.

‘Amazing’ $1 million win is Durham man’s second big lottery prize: In April 2012, Keith McClintock of Durham scratched his way to $150,000 on a $5 Aces High ticket. In January 2014 his good fortune came on a $10 Holiday Gold ticket - to the tune of $1 million. “When I won, it was like ‘Oh my God – $1 million,’” he recalled. “It’s amazing.” McClintock said that his first win enabled his family to pay for his daughter to attend college, take care of medical expenses, and buy new cars. At the time of his second win, he planned to use his prize money to renovate his kitchen.

Couple of 42 years wins ‘nice Valentine’s Day present’: Shirley and Stanley Davis of Raeford in Hoke County won a $348,078 Carolina Cash 5 jackpot just before Valentine's Day. Shirley told us she watched the drawing and wrote down the winning numbers, then showed them to her husband. “You did it! You did it!” he said. “You won the Cash 5!” When the Davises came to lottery headquarters to claim their winnings, Shirley added that “This makes retirement easier. It’s a nice Valentine’s Day present.”

Charlotte man uses birthdays to win $2 million Powerball prize: It can pay to Power Play. Just ask John Ames of Charlotte. When he showed up at lottery headquarters in March to claim his $2 million Powerball prize, he told us that for years he had been using the same series of family birthdays to pick his numbers. He matched all five white balls in the March 1 drawing and, because he added the $1 Power Play feature, he doubled his prize to $2 million.

Furniture maker: $3 million instant win ‘a dream come true’: James Foard Jr., a lifelong furniture maker from Statesville, scratched off $3 million playing the $120 Million Cash game. "I've worked hard all my life," said Foard, 52. "I added it up - everything I've made since I started working - and this is more than that." Foard said he planned to continue building and upholstering furniture for another ten years or so before retiring early.

Two veterans win major lottery prizes week before Memorial Day: We never know where good luck will show up or who will find it. But we're glad that a pair of major lottery wins went to servicemen in the week leading up to Memorial Day 2014. Terry McLamb, a Vietnam War Veteran from Wake Forest won the top prize playing the $1,000 a Week for Life! game and Michael Rowles, a retired Army veteran from Fayetteville, won $200,000 playing the Extreme Cash instant game.

Boone man wins $581,760 Carolina Cash 5 jackpot: How would you like to win a 'mountain' of cash? That's what Western North Carolina resident Stephen Clopton of Boone did, when his Carolina Cash 5 ticket won the $581,760 jackpot in the Jan. 13 drawing. He made the trip from Watauga County to lottery headquarters in Raleigh during the first week of June to collect his winnings.

$2 million Powerball winner to fund scholarship at Shaw University: Marilyn Fields of Raleigh, an alumni and longtime employee of Shaw University, won $2 million in the July 9 Powerball drawing - and said she would dedicate some of her prize to education. “For me it was a miracle to attend Shaw University,” Fields said. “By awarding a student with the Richardson Johnson Fields Endowed Scholarship, I can give students who are doing the best that they can academically, but still need financial help, the same opportunity I had.”

Want fries with that? Owner of Beef Burger restaurant in Greensboro wins $150,000: What's better than winning the lottery? Some might say loving what you do every day. Ralph Havis of Greensboro has owned and operated the local Beef Burger restaurant for more than four decades. After buying a Golden 7’s ticket for $5 – around the same price as a burger, fries and a drink at his restaurant – he won $150,000. “Some people talk about the fun things they would do if they won the lottery,” Havis said. “But my fun is selling hamburgers.”

Garner business owner on $4 million win: ‘This gives me a fresh start’: Though Jimmy Kennovin, a businessman who owns an HVAC company in Garner, had a lot of plans for the $4 million prize he won playing the lottery, he said his daily life will remain the same. “I’m going to pay off some of my house, buy a car for my son and a boat,” Kennovin said. “And I’m sure we’ll take a vacation. But outside of that, I’m going to save for retirement and go back to work.”

‘Holy mackerel!’ Retired catfish farmer reels in $1 million: James Harrison, a retired catfish farmer from Robersonville in Martin County, said he'd use the $1 million prize he won playing the $200 Million Blowout game to buy a boat and save for his grandchildren’s education. “Holy mackerel,” Harrison said as he held his check for the first time. “I feel absolutely wonderful.”

Onslow County farm worker wins first $250,000 All or Nothing top prize: A lottery milestone was reached when Allen Boone Jr., a farmer from Hubert in Onslow County, became the first player to win the $250,000 top prize playing the All or Nothing game by matching all 12 numbers in the Nov. 14 drawing. “I usually play Cash 5,” Boone said. “But the jackpot wasn’t very high so I looked at the new All or Nothing game. I liked that you could win a big prize, so I bought a Quick Pick ticket. Best two dollars I ever spent.”

Lumber yard supervisor from Western N.C. wins $4 million: Henry Smith said he couldn't believe his eyes when he scratched off $4 million playing the $200 Million Blowout game. The lumber yard supervisor from Rutherfordton knows another big-time lottery winner from Rutherford County - two-time lottery winner Dan Royal of Forest City. “I never would have tried a $20 ticket if it wasn’t for Dan,” Smith said of Royal. “He came over the day I won, looked at my ticket, and said ‘Yup. Welcome to the millionaires’ club.’”

Those were just some of the highlights of a great year meeting great winners. We appreciate the chance to share these stories and talk with all of you. See you here in the Lucke-Zone in 2015.