CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia couple just became millionaires after receiving a check from the West
Virginia Lottery for $2 million.
Robert and Mary Thomas of Charleston were awarded their check on Monday for winning the Powerball from the Wednesday, July 11 drawing. The ticket matched five of the winning numbers and was one of only three in the entire country with five numbers.
The winning numbers for Wednesday’s drawing were 19-21-27-46-47 and the Powerball number was seven.
Thomas’s ticket was the only one in the nation to have five matching number with the Power Play option, because of that, the prize winnings were doubled.
Thomas purchased his ticket at Fas Chek #3 on Campbell’s Creek Drive and said that he headed over to grab a few things from the store but got very distracted from his shopping when he found out his ticket was a winner.
“I went home and told my wife that I had a problem; I forgot what I went after, and she wanted to know what the problem was,” he said. “I said, ‘Well I got tied up with the lottery.’ She said, ‘You did?’ I said, ‘Well I won.’ She said, ‘How much did you win?’ I said, ‘$2 million.'”
The pair said they don’t really have plans to splurge on any big ticket items.
“We live just like everyone else paying bills. I have no desire to buy a boat or a car or anything,” he said.
Thomas explained that he’s played the Powerball every week for years, but he never thought he’d win anything big.
“I slept in late and just strolled out of bed and went over there. I didn’t know what was going on; I was just going to check my ticket as usual,” he said. “I’m lucky. We’re lucky. I didn’t think it would ever happen, but anyways I’m going to have to watch how I spend it, because it’ll go fast probably.”
Thomas is retired but said that both he and his wife had worked very hard all their lives to make enough money to live happy lives. The two have been married for 48 years, and recently they’ve been on a good luck streak.
Earlier this year, Robert Thomas was one of the 25 winners in the Powerball Power Cruise Promotion and won a trip for two to the Bahamas on the second Power Cruise scheduled for next January.
Thomas said he and his wife were very excited for the cruise, because they do not travel.
“I’ve never been out of West Virginia. We’ve never been on a trip,” he said. “So, it might be kind of scary on a boat. I don’t know; I’m not used to boats.”
Thomas said he was so thankful for everything that has happened to him and his wife recently.
He took the cash option for winnings, so after taxes he should receive about $1.3 million.
Story by Jordyn Johnson