For three days, employees of the Kelley Williamson Mobil station that sold Saturday's winning $14.3 million Megabucks ticket wondered who the lucky buyer was.
They hoped it was a regular customer, like Napolean Elvord, an ailing veteran in need of a kidney transplant who comes in several times a day to get what he calls "one of the best coffees in Madison" — and most days, to buy lottery tickets.
"I asked him the next day, 'Were you the big winner?'" said Paul Muchie, 29, of Madison, who sold the winning ticket at the store at 3859 E. Washington Ave. on the Far East Side.
Elvord said it wasn't him, but as days passed with no one coming forward to claim the millions, manager Corky Wunderlin asked again.
"He thought it was Wednesday's drawing" that had the multimillion winner, Wunderlin said.
Elvord said he found his ticket from Saturday's drawing on a table at his home.
"A couple people gave me the numbers," he said, but when he compared them with his ticket, "It didn't mean anything."
So Elvord, who said he'll turn "60 in a couple years," took his ticket to the Wisconsin Lottery office to see if he was the winner. "The first thing they asked me was, 'Did you make up the ticket?'"
Most people who come in already know they have a winning ticket, explained Michael Edmonds, the lottery's director.
What went through his head when he realized he had won millions?
"It's still going through my head," said Elvord, who opted for a $10.2 million lump sum payment, giving him $6.87 million after taxes.
A first priority is taking care of health insurance, said Elvord, who has been receiving dialysis for five years. He also plans to return to the warmer climate of his native Texas.
Elvord said he had let another customer go ahead of him before Muchie printed out his winning Megabucks ticket with computer-generated numbers. "I think it was a mistake because I was trying to play the Powerball."
Love this story. Apparently Elvord was trying to purchase a Powerball ticket...... not the Megabucks.
When mistakes or confusion take place when buying a ticket.....good fortune alway's seems to follow$$$
I alway's buy the mistake ticket(s) whenever the cashier offers to print a new one.
Congratulations Elvord!
Glad to see a regular guy like Elvord win a big one like this.
God bless him.
"The first thing they asked me was, 'Did you make up the ticket?'"
Just what does that mean? They think he printed it up himself ?
I get mental block at times But I can not figure out that statement.
I sent this story to Todd as soon as I read it ..I readly find it to be pretty wild stuff
i often tell people to go in front of me,
at any store, it's good for you and shows sense of commuinity
when i read this i was glad i did't win that game,
congrats napolean, get well,hopefully the tx.
climate and the feeling of being home will help cure you,
have heard of such things,
i'll take my win another game.
God Bless Napolean Elvord!
Now if I could get one of my "mistakes" to turn into good fortune!
I am looking to keep the good luck streak for Pennsylvania residents going strong with tomorrow's Powerball drawing ....... "Green with Money" - dpoly1, 1/27/2012
1 percent is good!
Oooooooooooops, the picture of my new car is bigger than I thougt it would be
Powerball is TONIGHT,not tomorrow night.Good luck,anyway.
God bless, Napolean. Now he can pay for his kidney transplant, and return to sunny Texas.
And live happily ever after.
But I cannot claim it until tomorrow
Thanks anywho ......................
.......... and then I can proceed to claim more sunshine than we get here in Pennsylvania ................
Yeah....... he should have said TOP COP from Iowa lottery security Steve Bogle made it up for him,......as a professional courtesy of course.
ROTFLOLing
The article reads: "So Elvord, who said he'll turn "60 in a couple years," took his ticket to the Wisconsin Lottery office to see if he was the winner. "The first thing they asked me was, 'Did you make up the ticket?'"
Hum, I wonder if any visiting lottery ticket holder has ever answered "yes" to this BOLD question from a Wisconsin Lottery Headquarters office personnel member?
Also, I wonder what happens if the answer received is "Yes." [Does the forgerer get a pat on the head, and perhaps a compliment, if their home-grown lottery ticket looks pleasing to the eyes?]
Congratulation Mr. Elvord........