Douglas Watkins of Nebo remembers very clearly the exact moment he uncovered a $100,000 lottery prize.
“I started seeing zeroes,” he laughed. “Needless to say, I was extremely excited.”
Watkins said he likes to scratch his tickets in a specific way each time.
“When I scratch, I don’t reveal the prizes at first,” he explained. “I scratch the numbers to see if any match then I go back to check the prize.”
Watkins purchased his lucky $20 Win Big ticket from the Country Market on Dysartsville Road in Morganton. He told his wife right after he won.
“When I went to tell my wife I said, ‘I think I won $100,000,’” Watkins recalled. “She didn’t believe it.”
He collected his prize at lottery headquarters Friday and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $71,756.
He plans to put most of his winnings in the bank and possibly go on a cruise.
The Win Big game debuted in October with three $2 million top prizes and six $100,000 prizes. Two $2 million prizes and four $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
A $15 million grant, using money raised by the lottery, helped McDowell County build the new Old Fort Elementary School. For details on other ways McDowell County benefits from lottery funds, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.
Login to leave a comment.