TOPEKA, KAN. – During their nine years of marriage, Angela Ray had purchased a few Keno tickets, but her husband Shawn never had. Shawn Ray was apparently waiting until the time was right. The time was definitely right last Friday night. Ray purchased his very first Keno ticket while playing cards at the VFW in Emporia and won $8,735!

Ray won his impressive prize by matching all seven numbers and the Bull’s-eye on a 7-spot Keno ticket and also winning a progressive jackpot bonus prize.

“I just randomly picked seven numbers,” said the Emporia man. “The numbers seemed right at the time, and afterwards they seemed even more right!”

Angela Ray was watching the Keno monitor when the winning numbers were drawn, but she lost track of how many numbers Shawn had matched. It wasn’t until she had a VFW employee check the ticket that she knew her husband had won more than $8,000.

“It was a rough weekend,” said Angela. “We kept the ticket in my purse, and didn’t let that purse out of our sight!”

Shawn Ray is employed at Irsik & Doll Feed Service in Emporia. Angela Ray works at Kansa Technology, also in Emporia. The couple has two children, ages 8 and 4. The Rays say Angela needs a new vehicle, so they may use some of their prize money for that.

The winning ticket was purchased at VFW 1980, located at 932 Graphic Arts Road in Emporia.