A Navy Veteran from Jackson is $150,000 richer today after playing Powerball. Thomas Woodard, age 81, matched the four white balls and the Powerball- 08-12-25-41-64 PB: 15 in Saturday's drawing. That is typically a $50,000 prize but because Woodard selected the Powerplay option, the prize multiplied by three which is how he ended up with $150,000.
Powerball tickets were being sold on a steady clip Wednesday, ahead of that night's $700 million jackpot drawing.
Woodard purchased his ticket at the Shell gas station located at 1780 Clinton in Jackson. He didn't realize he had won until the next morning.
“I checked my ticket at Meijer on Sunday morning and the machine told me to see the retailer,” said Woodard. “I gave the clerk my ticket and she scanned it and said: ‘Tom, you won $50,000, you’ve got to go to Lansing!
“I made an appointment to talk to my bank about the money, and when they looked over the ticket that is when I realized it was actually $150,000!”
Woodard made the trip to Lansing to claim his prize. He tried to remain calm. “I’m 81 years old, I can’t get too excited about winning, I don’t want to kick the bucket,” Woodard joked. The US Navy veteran plans to use his new windfall to pay off his bills. He says he will save the rest.
“I’m 81 years old, I can’t get too excited about winning, I don’t want to kick the bucket!” Learn more ?? https://t.co/htRy1CGKs9 pic.twitter.com/xtytIQL0T1
— Michigan Lottery (@MILottery) October 4, 2017
