CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Martinsburg man is the next winner of $1 million Powerball prize.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Powerball winner Harry Seal. “It’s something I thought would never happen in my lifetime.”
Seal was in Charleston Thursday, on his birthday, to pick up his winnings, a check worth $685,000. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the check.
“I still, even as of right now and even though I have the check in hand, it’s just something I can’t fathom,” he said. “It’s hard for me to actually realize that right now that I do have that kind of money.”
Seal, an employee at Eagle Auto Parts in Martinsburg for 12 years, purchased a ticket at the Citgo on Route 9 in Martinsburg for last Saturday’s Powerball drawing that ended up matching five numbers for $1 million.
Seal’s wife noticed they had the winning ticket and pointed it out to her husband.
“I didn’t believe it. I thought she was just talking to me, teasing me because we never win and it definitely was a winner and it’s like a dream come true,” Seal said.
Seal becomes the 58th person to win or share a prize of $1 million or more in the West Virginia Lottery’s history. Seal’s Powerball Match 5 ticket was the only Match 5 winner sold for the August 17 drawing in the country.
Now the question is what will Seal do with his winnings? Well, he isn’t planning no lifestyle change.
“I do want to try to get my wife to go on a little vacation somewhere, she doesn’t like to travel too much, but I’m going to continue working and I think I’m going to buy a car,” he said. “Do some things around the house, pay some bills off that need to be paid and try to make some smart investments where we will hopefully have some money further down the line.”
Seal also plans to help his kids and grand kids if they need it, but only if they choose to help themselves.
Seal drove to Charleston to pick up his check in a new 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer, courtesy of his boss who was happy he wasn’t quitting.
The owner of the Citgo where the winning ticket was sold also made the trip to Charleston to get his own check worth $10,000. Retailers receive a one percent commission on winning tickets.
During Thursday’s check presentation, Lottery Director John Musgrave said there is also an unclaimed $1 million Powerball Match 5 ticket still out their that was sold at the Little General on Robert C. Byrd Drive in Beckley for the March 16 Powerball drawing. That ticket will expire on September 12, if it is not claimed.