Luck runs in the Davis family, but the way its Lottery winners keep quiet, you probably wouldn't know it.
Edward Davis of Ashland, Massachusetts has been lying low since hitting a $4 million Lottery jackpot Friday, but he bought a round of drinks for everyone at the American Legion James O. Carey Post No. 77, where he scored his winning ticket.
"I've been a nervous wreck. I haven't slept in three days," Davis said.
Davis, who is wary of media interviews, said his brother was a $2 million winner five years ago. Although he would not not reveal his brother's name, the MetroWest Daily News reported in 1998 that retired General Motors welder Charles J. Davis of Milford won $2 million jackpot on a Jubilee 25 scratch ticket.
"(Keeping quiet) is a typical reaction among winners," said Massachusetts Lottery spokeswoman Amy Morris.
A $640 Million Jubilee ticket turned out to be the lucky one for Davis. There is a one in 8,064,000 chance of winning $4 million, the game's highest jackpot, Morris said.
Davis is the fourth person to win the jackpot, and six more $4 million prizes are still available, Morris said.
He received a check for $140,000 yesterday from Joseph Sullivan, executive director of the Massachusetts Lottery, and Davis will receive $200,000 before taxes for the next 19 years, Morris said.
A part-time assembler at Tapeler Tape Machine Corp. in Ashland, Davis, 66, said he does not yet know what he'll do with his winnings. All he is sure of, he said yesterday, is giving some money to his two children, moving out of his apartment and hiring a financial adviser.
"I don't want to blow it as quickly as I get it," Davis said.
Davis is allowing himself the luxury of a few weeks off from work. He said he also quit his second part-time job Saturday at Main Street Wine and Liquors in Ashland.
Co-workers at the spirit shop said Davis is a polite, respectful man who is quick to help others.
Davis said he is not a member of the American Legion post at 40 Summer Street, but when he stops in he always plays scratch tickets. Bob Dionne, the American Legion bar manager, said Davis usually sits at the front corner of the bar and keeps to himself.
"If anyone deserves to win, it's him," said Dionne.
The American Legion post will get a pretax amount of $40,000 for selling the winning ticket, said Morris. Dionne said it's a "pretty penny" for the nonprofit organization.
"We don't get that every day. It comes at just the right time with Christmas coming up and insurance due soon," said Dionne. "Everybody wins."
Davis said he has been buying scratch tickets for years.
"I told (Sullivan) that the check he was giving me was probably all of the money they owe me," Davis said with a laugh. "I'll still keep playing, but maybe not as much."
The point is, the "winner" DID NOT have a choice-Mass. continues to require almost all big winners to receive annuity payments. (Mega Millions' cash option IS available in Mass., however.)
I don't know how it is in other states, but here in VA, if you claim a prize and choose the annuity, the money is yours. If you leave the lottery office after claiming and then get killed by a bus, the money is still "yours"...it is part of your estate and is disposed of according to your wishes (as per your will) or VA's probate law if there is no will. So, that isn't a problem in VA.
On the other topic, however, even though CASH and I don't see eye to eye on whether it is better to take the annuity or lump sum payment, I definitely do agree with him that lotteries that do not give you a choice in the matter are not being fair to the player.
Who cares?
Todd:
Of course I am. You know how I feel about games that don't allow the winner to take the cash in lieu of the annuity.
True, but I'll bet that guy is floating on air getting $200,000 a year for the next 20 years!
The American Legion's got to be pretty happy too.
Yeah, but the balloon will burst if he dies before he receives all his payments.
Hello,Don't see me much b
Bunny:
The point is, the "winner" DID NOT have a choice-Mass. continues to require almost all big winners to receive annuity payments. (Mega Millions' cash option IS available in Mass., however.)
I don't know how it is in other states, but here in VA, if you claim a prize and choose the annuity, the money is yours. If you leave the lottery office after claiming and then get killed by a bus, the money is still "yours"...it is part of your estate and is disposed of according to your wishes (as per your will) or VA's probate law if there is no will. So, that isn't a problem in VA.
On the other topic, however, even though CASH and I don't see eye to eye on whether it is better to take the annuity or lump sum payment, I definitely do agree with him that lotteries that do not give you a choice in the matter are not being fair to the player.