LANSING, April 25, 2002 – Persistence paid off for Herbert Kallmeyer of Dearborn, who said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 29 years. He matched five numbers in the April 16 Big Game drawing to win a $150,000 prize! The winning numbers for that day’s drawing were: 7, 10, 25, 26, 27 and the Big Money Ball number was 23.

The winning "easy pick" ticket was purchased at CVS/Pharmacy #08001, 15325 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn.

"I watched the Big Game drawing on television," Kallmeyer said. "I usually just check the winning numbers in the paper the following morning, but with all the excitement surrounding the Big Game jackpot, I stayed up to watch the televised drawing. I thought I was seeing things the first time I looked at my ticket! My wife and I are tickled pink to win such a large prize!"

The lucky 80-year-old retiree said he kept the winning ticket on a dresser in his home before turning it in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing. He added that he plans to use his winnings to purchase a new car, give to his favorite charities and share with his children.

"I have never been so lucky in the past," Kallmeyer said. "The older I get, the luckier I seem to become!"

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is Friday, April 26, with an estimated jackpot of $12 million.

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