This lottery story begins with the number 168. That’s the combined number of years that Jimmy Davis, Sam Lawrence, Thurman Moore, and Rex Riley worked on the production team at the News & Record in Greensboro.
Now retired in the Triad area, they don’t see each other as often. But they’ve kept some traditions. They still meet up at a Cracker Barrel at least once a month. And they still pitch in $5 a piece to play Mega Millions every week, always playing the same numbers. The winning numbers for Tuesday’s drawing led to another number: They won $5,000.
“We give Sam our money and he buys the tickets,” said Riley. “Devil called me at seven in the morning to tell me we’d won.”
The four friends plan to use their $1,250 shares to enjoy retirement. And Riley said he already bought front-row tickets to a show featuring another group of guys who have worked and played together a long time.
“Me and my girlfriend are going to see the Rolling Stones in Raleigh on Wednesday,” he said. “I sat front row at their show in Greensboro in 1975. So to get to do that again 40 years later, on what’s probably their last tour, it’s really gonna be something.”
Riley said the group isn’t going to take any time off from playing for a chance to win more. They’ve got a ticket for Friday’s drawing. The estimated jackpot is a $64 million annuity, worth $38 million cash.
“I do believe that would put all four of us over the hump right there,” Riley said. “That would be wonderful to win that.”
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