LANSING, November 14, 2003 – In Ro of Battle Creek always dreamed that his lucky numbers would make him an instant millionaire one day, and that dream became reality on Tuesday, November 11 when he matched all six numbers in that day’s Mega Millions drawing!  Ro was one of three lucky Mega Millions players in 10 states to correctly match all six winning numbers in the November 11, 2003 drawing.

The winning numbers for that drawing were: 2, 5, 17, 21, 22 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 43.  The announced jackpot for the November 11 Mega Millions drawing was $70 million.  Three lucky tickets matched all six numbers in that drawing to win a portion of the jackpot prize, making each of the winning tickets worth $23.3 million.  Ro opted to collect his prize in one lump-sum payment of $13,333,343, the present cash value of the jackpot prize before taxes.  The lucky man purchased the winning Mega Millions ticket at Centre Street Shell #4780, 2019 W. Centre Ave., in Portage.

“I watched the drawing on WGN,” Ro said.  “I knew as soon as I saw the winning numbers drawn that I had matched all six numbers because I always play the same set of my own lucky numbers.  I was so shocked to see that I had won that I just sat in the chair and couldn’t move for about 10 minutes.  I am still completely surprised to have won, but I am also very excited about it!”

Prior to turning the winning Mega Millions ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, Ro said he kept it in a “safe place” in his house at all times to ensure its safety.

Ro, an avid sports fan who said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 27 years, said he plans to use part of his winnings to buy a new house and pay for his children’s college tuition.  He added that he and his wife have not yet decided what they will do with the remainder of the winnings.

“I am absolutely thrilled for Mr. Ro,” Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters said.  “It’s been a true pleasure to meet with Michigan’s newest multi-millionaire and share in his excitement!”

The lucky man offered the following words of encouragement to other Lottery hopefuls: “Just keep playing because you never know when it might be your lucky day.”

Mega Millions is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington.  Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Mega Millions drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.  The next Mega Millions drawing is tonight, Friday, November 14, with a guaranteed jackpot o $10 million.  For more information about Mega Millions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery or the Mega Millions Web site at www.megamillions.com.

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