LANSING, August 17, 1999 — Henry Delarye of Inkster knew he had won something on The Big Game ticket he purchased — he just wasn’t sure how much! Delarye matched the first five numbers in the July 30 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 8, 13, 20, 44, 47 and the Big Money Ball number was 21.

"I never even checked the numbers on my ticket myself," Delarye said. "I took it to the store and had the clerk check the ticket for me to see if I had won anything. When she ran it through the terminal, a message telling me to take the ticket to a Lottery office appeared. She checked with her manager and learned that I had won a $150,000 prize. I was completely surprised!"

Delarye said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 27 years, and his favorites are The Big Game and instant tickets. The Inkster resident purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Little Professor Book Center, 22174 Michigan Avenue, in Dearborn.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, Delarye kept it in his wallet to ensure its safety. The lucky man said he does not yet have any plans for his winnings. He said he is "still thinking about it."

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is tonight, August 17, with an expected jackpot of $15 million.

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