Holding a mock check for nearly $74 million, Ronald Crump kept cracking jokes. Winning the Mega Millions lottery jackpot had left him giddy.
First off, the retired postal employee from Amarillo had a special message for everyone who didn't have his winning numbers, "To all the millions who bought tickets and didn't win, I thank you very much."
He said he planned to upgrade his 12-year-old car with another one half its age.
And for all the traveling he plans to do - Las Vegas, the Caribbean and New York — well, "I thought I'd better make Vegas last."
Crump, 67, his brothers Kenneth and Donald, and his son Dean, turned in their winning ticket for the Jan. 9 Mega Millions jackpot at Texas Lottery Commission headquarters today. The jackpot was estimated at $122 million, but the family chose the immediate cash option payment of $73,572,690.
The Crumps are the fourth Texas winners of the multi-state Mega Millions lottery.
Ronald Crump gave few specifics of what the family planned to do with its new riches. Travel seemed to top the list, but other priorities included paying for college for children and grandchildren, contributions to their church, and maybe a new home.
"We're going to help a lot of people, I hope," he said.
Dean Crump said he's still on his job at a computer software company in Amarillo.
"I feel like I have a lot of people who still depend on me," he said. "Until we get that situated, I'll stay there."
His father knew what he'd do if he was still working.
"If I had a job I'd have quit it," Ronald Crump said.
Together, nine family members are sharing the prize, although only the four men attended the news conference to announce the winners.
Ronald Crump purchased the winning ticket and his numbers - 54-11-7-38-26 and Mega Ball 13 -were randomly selected by the computer.
"I thought it would never happen, and it did. It's very nice," he said. "I'd recommend it."
He bought two tickets that day "because I was afraid the other one wouldn't win."
Ronald Crump joked that he considered leaving the country when he realized he had won.
"I thought Mexico was sounding pretty good," he said.
Kenneth Crump said his brother was wise not to run.
Hi, Roslindale! I spent part of my childhood in JP. My grandmother was at the Rehabilitation Center for The Aged. I think the address was West Roxbury however, but they all are so close. I used to go to Hanc-ock Village all the time when I was a kid.
I agree. Although he was probably just very happy, he was being a bit of a jerk! At least he was honest. I must be very strange and need psychiatric help .... when I see a winning ticket, I don't think "I wish I won it" I always think "I wish I got the other half." In other words, the other guy won it, so I don't want to take away that from him, but I'd like to win too!! I hope this family enjoys their money. They sound like good people just having a lot of fun.
Enjoyable story. I totally connected with the comment on thanking those who contributed to his winnings! Without them the pot wouldnt have been collected at such an amount. Being recognized is what its about, and the guy was doing just that :) May the family enjoy the wealth and the perks that come with it.
Quote: Originally posted by TheGameGrl on Feb 2, 2007
Enjoyable story. I totally connected with the comment on thanking those who contributed to his winnings! Without them the pot wouldnt have been collected at such an amount. Being recognized is what its about, and the guy was doing just that :) May the family enjoy the wealth and the perks that come with it.
TheGameGrl:::::::::::::::::0!0>>>>>>>>
I connected to $100
Dropped on this MM by ..........ODK!!
what more can we....say????CONGRAT
(to ALL the JACKPOT winners with OUR.....................MONEY)
"To all the millions who bought tickets and didn't win, I thank you very much."
You're welcome - NOT!!!!
(P.S. I don't hate the guy for winning - it's the rubbing it in that gets me...)
Hi, Roslindale! I spent part of my childhood in JP. My grandmother was at the Rehabilitation Center for The Aged. I think the address was West Roxbury however, but they all are so close. I used to go to Hanc-ock Village all the time when I was a kid.
I agree. Although he was probably just very happy, he was being a bit of a jerk! At least he was honest. I must be very strange and need psychiatric help .... when I see a winning ticket, I don't think "I wish I won it" I always think "I wish I got the other half." In other words, the other guy won it, so I don't want to take away that from him, but I'd like to win too!! I hope this family enjoys their money. They sound like good people just having a lot of fun.
Enjoyable story. I totally connected with the comment on thanking those who contributed to his winnings! Without them the pot wouldnt have been collected at such an amount. Being recognized is what its about, and the guy was doing just that :) May the family enjoy the wealth and the perks that come with it.
TheGameGrl:::::::::::::::::0!0>>>>>>>>
I connected to $100
Dropped on this MM by ..........ODK!!
what more can we....say????CONGRAT
(to ALL the JACKPOT winners with OUR.....................MONEY)
Good news again.
The Mega is rolling now.
Really, I am impressed to FINALLY hear a winner recognize that the jackpot was there only because of all of us who contributed to it.
New York has Donald Trump and we have Ronald Crump. Not as rich, but a much nicer person. Better haircut, too.
Orangeman
Amarillo, Texas