LANSING, July 31, 2002 – This past Saturday was no different than any other Saturday for a Manistee County man, until his wife asked him to stop at a Traverse City 7-Eleven store to pick up a Slurpee for her. At the last second before he got out of the car she added, "pick up a Lottery ticket too." That is when life as they know it would change forever, as they were about to become instant millionaires later that evening!

The man and his wife are just two members of an eight-member Lottery club, who were the only Michigan Lottery players to match all six numbers in the July 27, 2002 Michigan Millions drawing: 35, 36, 38, 41, 46 and 51. That day’s announced jackpot was $29.6 million. The winners, who requested anonymity, however, chose to receive their winnings in one lump-sum payment for $14,431,254, the present cash value of the jackpot before taxes.

When the lucky man purchased the winning Michigan Millions ticket he said he never dreamed he would actually win!

"I was writing down the numbers as they came up on the television screen," the club’s representative said. "When I looked at my ticket and saw that I had matched all six I could hardly believe my eyes.
I was completely surprised and shocked! I immediately showed the ticket to my wife and she said, ‘We are millionaires!’ I still can’t believe we won – none of this has actually set in yet!"

The couple said that they have always vowed that if they ever won a Lottery jackpot they would share it with their six children.

"We called our kids right away to share the good news with them," the club’s representative said. "They didn’t believe us at first, but they do now. Winning this money is a wonderful thing! I am so happy I am able to share this money with my children who can, in turn, share it with their children — our grandchildren!"

The winning Michigan Millions "easy pick" ticket was sold at 7-Eleven #051C, 124 Cochlin Street, in Traverse City. The club’s representative said he kept the winning ticket in his billfold at all times to ensure its safety before turning it in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing.

The club members, who range in age from 42 to 83 years of age, told Lottery officials they have a variety of plans for their winnings, including: buying a home, purchasing new vehicles, paying bills and saving for retirement.

Michigan Millions drawings are conducted every Wednesday and Saturday. The guaranteed jackpot for tonight’s (Wednesday) July 31 drawing is $2 million.

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