SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For Richard Heath, there is only one way to start the workday: with lottery tickets.
Heath, a 77-year-old Syracuse native, said he became a school crossing guard after he retired from his job as a Pennzoil truck driver in 2001. He buys a handful of $2 scratch-off tickets every morning from a gas station in the Valley before helping children safely get to school.
Over the last 16 years, Heath said he has gotten lucky — occasionally scratching off $40 or $100 winning tickets.
But he never expected to win the top prize.
Heath won a $1,000,000 prize from the New York Lottery. He bought the jackpot Win $1,000 A Week For Life ticket at Mobile Mart last month.
The chances of winning the jackpot prize are one in 7,745,600, according to the state.
Yolanda Vega, of the New York Lottery, gave Heath and his wife Beverly Heath a large, ceremonial check on Thursday morning. The presentation happened at the 4730 S. Salina St. gas station where Heath bought his winning ticket.
Heath opted to take a lump-sum payment of $536,227.
Standing in front of a display of colorful scratch-off tickets, Heath recounted the day he won the lottery.
Heath stopped by the Mobile Mart about three weeks ago on his way to work. The employees know him, he said, and already had a stack of five tickets waiting for him when he arrived.
After leaving the gas station, Heath said he drove to Midland Avenue, where he helps children cross the street on their way to Van Duyn Elementary School. Then, before the students arrived, he started to scratch off his tickets.
Heath was shocked, he said, when he scratched off the word "life" three times. He checked and rechecked the ticket — struggling to believe he had actually won.
After helping students get to school, Heath said he returned to his South Side home and showed his wife the ticket. The couple then went to a lottery claim center.
"Everybody was excited. It still hadn't dawned on me," Heath said. "It won't dawn on me until I get some money in my hand."
The Heaths, who have been married for 38 years, said they plan to use some of the money to pay off their bills and help their children and grandchildren. They also want to take a trip to Las Vegas and fix up their home.
"I love Syracuse," Heath said. "We're going to stay here."
Heath said he plans to keep on working as a crossing guard.
When the lottery ceremony ended, it was almost noon — and time for Heath to leave. The school day would end soon, and Heath said he planned to be there to help his students safely reach home.
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Thanks to DELotteryPlyr for the tip.
^5 congrats
May the Heaths live long and prosper! Richard and Beverly Heath have now seen how the tax man is their silent partner.
Wonderful news for the Heaths. May they live long & prosper.
77 years young huh, reminds me of the 77 year old UPS delivery man in Detriot * l think. Has 50 odd years driving for them, and not a single ticket or an accident in all those years.Still working for them.
They don't make them like that anymore.
That is just awesome! Congratulations to the Heaths!
I wouldn't work anymore. The company eventually finds out and they will offer him some type of retirement. People think companies will commit to the workers not anymore.
Congrats Mr. Heath. WTG
Whether the company finds out about his win or not, it is none of their business attempting to sunset Mr Heath. if he has been doing a fine job for 16 years, what's the need? Doing that could lead to an unwanted lawsuit.Companies today have to be extra careful on how they treat the elderly.Trying that sort of thing out here, can be a recipe for disaster.
Wrong. Companies can do anything they want. It says it in the application no matter if it says that they can't discriminate companies are not loyal to people anymore trust me.
Congrats Mr & Mrs Heath. Enjoy your newly acquired wealth for years to come.
Ok, let's say you right. What were you fired for? Please don't say you have not. I can almost hear your throat tightening up, and having your back against the wagonwheel. So confess.
There's no company involved here. He's probably an employee of the school district.
Furthermore it's part time and seasonal.
He's likely to keep the job as long as he wants it and has his wits about him.
I agree. Anyway after taxes, he will have $300,000 or so. He is hardly going to create a disruption in the workplace. Now if he won $500 million plus, it might be a risk for him. I could see some nut saying I 'll abduct this child by you, unless you pay me x dollars. It does not mean the criminal would get away with it, but he would have to find another location to try to anonymously work as a crossing guard. He would become a target otherwise.
Watcha talking about Willis? ????? It say what in what application?
i am so very happy for him. Late 70s. I am praying he live another great 10 to 20 yrs. some do so he has
a LONG time, each waking day and night to enjoy the comfort of Financial-Security,and great health i hope.
He deserves it. WTG! Congrats...Love Yolanda Vega there in NYC .I know she always seem so jovial and nice when i one time
went to visit N.Y.C. and my friend from college was showing me her and she was saying, "This is Yolanda Vega!!!"and "have a great or good night."
She rocks!
This is such a great story.
Congrats!