LANSING, June 25, 1997 – For the 10 members of a Troy lottery club, Friday the 13th is anything but scary. On June 13, the "Friday the 13th – Jason Pays Off" lottery club matched the first five Big Game numbers to win the $150,000 prize!
The club, which has informally played Lottery games as a club for just over four months, officially registered the club name after their big win.
"We decided to form a club after the Jackson lottery club won the Big Game jackpot in January," said club representative Concettina Cosenza. "We’ve hit for a little here and there, but never expected this."
"Tammy was the first of us to know, but she thought we’d won $1,500 each, not $15,000 each," said club member Kim Procunier. "When she found out we won, her husband was outside cutting the lawn – and even he heard her scream! After that, Tammy called other members and word spread quickly."
The club’s winning "easy pick" ticket was kept in a safe deposit box until the club’s trip to Lansing. For the journey to Lottery headquarters, the ticket was put in a lockbox which was handcuffed to club member Eric Murrell’s wrist!
All club members currently work or have worked at SSOE Inc. Architects and Engineers in Troy. After their brush with good fortune, club members say they are definitely going to be "future regular players" of Michigan Lottery games.
Club members range in age from 26-44. Plans for their winnings include installing a pool, finishing a basement, building a deck, buying a car, and making investments.
Members of the "Friday the 13th – Jason Pays Off" lottery club are:
- Ronald Henry, Oakland Township
- Kim Luksch, Shelby Township
- Margaret Tome, Waterford
- Neil Wakeman, Fenton
- David McKone, Ortonville
- Tammy Tribble, Oxford
- Kim Procunier, Fenton
- Eric Murrell, Berkley
- Robert Bomier, Charlevoix
- Concettina Cosenza, Clawson
The club’s winning "easy pick" ticket was purchased at Uncle Boomba’s Variety Store, 1010 S. Lapeer Road, in Oxford.
The winning Big Game numbers drawn Friday, June 13, 1997, were: 5, 6, 22, 38, 43, and the Big Money Ball number was 3. Friday’s (June 27) Big Game jackpot is estimated at $8 million.
The Big Game offers nine ways to win cash prizes. Players pay $1 for each play, and choose five numbers from 1 to 50, as well as one additional number from 1 to 25.
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