SALEM– For two Clackamas County residents, May 18 will now be counted as one of their favorite days.
Kathleen Whitney of Wilsonville and Larry Meissel of Milwaukie both came away with big Lottery wins from drawings held May 18 – with Kathleen winning the $5.6 million Megabucks jackpot, while Larry won the Win for Life top prize of $1,000 a week for life!
$5.6 Million Megabucks Jackpot
On the evening of May 18, Kathleen was working on her mother’s celebration of life, as she had recently passed away.
“I had just wrapped up making the invitation when I remembered my Megabucks ticket,” Kathleen said. “So, I pulled up the Lottery’s app and scanned the ticket. There were all these Hollywood lights and balloons on the screen. I told my husband, ‘I think I won $5,600!’ and showed him the screen. He looks at the screen and says, ‘No. You won $5.6 million!’ I can’t help but think that my mom was part of us winning.”
Kathleen chose to take the one-time lump sum option making her prize $1,904,000.24 (after taxes). She plans to pay some bills, do some home remodeling and travel.
Kathleen bought her Megabucks ticket at the Wilsonville Safeway on Wilsonville Road and her winning numbers were 1-3-18-20-31-34.
One bit of Lottery advice Kathleen shared, “You can’t win, if you don’t play!”
$1,000 a Week for Life
Win for Life top prize winner Larry Meisel has been diligently playing the same numbers over the past five years.
The only number he’s changed over that time is his age. Having turned 73 this year, Larry replaced the old number with 73 and he’s happy he did.
The winning numbers drawn were 11-28-47-73.
By matching all four numbers drawn, Larry won the Win for Life jackpot of $1,000 a week for life. Win for Life offers players 46 ways to win and the ability to win multiple times on each ticket.
Win for Life jackpot winners can choose to receive a once-a-year $52,000 prize or $1,000 a week for life. Larry chose the weekly payment option.
Larry bought his winning ticket at Morrow’s Serv-U Market on SE McLoughlin Boulevard in Milwaukie.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $14 billion for economic development, public education, Outdoor School, state parks, Veteran Services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org
