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VIETNAM VET PLANS TO SHARE $250,000 MEGA MILLIONS WIN WITH HIS DAUGHTER
August 28, 2011
Proud Vietnam veteran, Richard Parsons, claimed his $250,000 prize from playing the draw game, Mega Millions, today. The 65-year-old Lakewood resident was so excited, he said he almost stood up and screamed in Safeway when he learned about his big win.
"I was in one of those electric carts at the grocery store when I checked my numbers," Richard recalled. "I asked the cashier to tell me the winning numbers from the August 16 drawing. She read them off, and I thought 1-2-3-4-5, and couldn't believe I matched five of the six numbers! I asked the cashier to double check my numbers, and she called me to the side of the counter and whispered, 'You won $250,000.'" He added, "That's when I wanted to jump out of my cart and scream, but kept it quiet to be safe!"
The first thing Richard did when he left the store was call his daughter, who lives in Virginia. "She was worried about me, and kept asking where I was, if I was with anyone, and if I was safe," he explained. "She's been great about all of this."
Richard appreciates his daughter's help so much that he plans to share his winnings with her. "I just bought a 1966 Thunderbird that I'm going to drive to Virginia to give her. I'm also going to pay off her bills and give her $20,000," he said.
When asked if he plans to use any of the money on himself Richard said, "I'm just going to live every day as they come. It will help with my quality of life, because I'll eat better, and I'll have it if I need it, but I'm not planning anything extravagant."
Richard purchased his ticket at the Safeway on Gravelly Lake Drive in Lakewood, and the retailer will receive a $2,500 retail selling bonus for Richard's big win.
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