Winning $1 Million Lottery Ticket Sold in Decatur

Staff Report

A Birmingham, Ala., man has won an extraordinary Powerball prize in Georgia. Robert Pitchford, 65, matched the first five winning numbers from the June 24 Powerball drawing, winning a $1 million prize.

“I didn’t even know that I’d hit,” Pitchford exclaimed.

The lucky winner claimed his prize Aug. 24 at Georgia Lottery headquarters in Atlanta after checking the results from a Powerball ticket that was tucked in his wallet.

“I purchased a ticket for multiple draws,” he shared. “I always come to the state line to check my ticket.”

In total, Pitchford won $261, plus his $1 million prize.

“I said, ‘Oh really, what,’ ” he exclaimed.

With his winnings, Pitchford anticipates purchasing a new convertible, taking a cruise and retiring from his job as a tool and dye maker.

Winning numbers from the June 24 Powerball drawing were: 3-5-10-22-32 and the Powerball was 7.

QuikTrip #0741, 1910 Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur, sold the winning Quik Pik ticket.

The jackpot for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing is an estimated $120 million to a single annuity winner.

As with all other Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Powerball will benefit education in the state of Georgia.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $16.5 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.7 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.4 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.