LANSING, September 18, 1998 – Three Detroit residents recently became big winners in the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game.  Ernest Hawkins, Donald Henry and Kathaleen Montague each won $150,000 in three separate Big Game drawings!

Hawkins, a retiree from Ford Motor Company, matched the first five numbers in the September 1 drawing – 9, 23, 24, 37, 44 and the Big Money Ball number was 24.

"I saw the numbers on television, but I still had to check at two different stores before I really believed I had won," Hawkins said.  "My wife didn’t believe it until we went to the Detroit Lottery office and had it verified.  It’s like a dream!"

Hawkins, 85, who plays the lottery regularly, purchased his winning Big Game ticket at Food Farm Market Inc., 11550 Dexter Ave., in Detroit.

In the July 21 Big Game drawing, Donald Henry also matched the first five numbers.  The winning numbers were: 3, 7, 8, 11, 20 and the Big Money Ball number was 25.  He purchased the ticket at 8 Mile Foodland, 18880 W. 8 Mile Road, in Southfield.

Henry, 48, has been a regular Michigan Lottery player since 1972.   As for his plans for the prize money, Henry said he will "put it in the bank and sit for a minute to think about it."

Kathaleen Montague, like Hawkins and Henry, also matched the first five numbers on her winning Big Game ticket.  The drawing was held September 4, and the winning numbers were: 11, 19, 25, 34, 47 and the Big Money Ball number was 10.  The winning "easy pick" ticket was purchased at Parklane Cork & Bottle, 19150 W. McNichols Road, in Detroit.

"I saw the numbers posted at the bottom of the TV screen while I was watching WDIV-TV 4," said Montague.  "A neighbor called and we checked the numbers together."

The Big Game is a six-state lottery game which held its first drawing in September 1996.  Lotteries in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Virginia contribute to the joint prize pool.  Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.

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