January 23, 2020 - Salem, Ore. – It’s been a very busy 12 months for Todd Williams. The Portland man got married, a got a new car and purchased a home, and after all that, won the Oregon Lottery.
“Now I can pay for it all,” Williams said when he claimed the top Win for Life prize of $1,000 a week for life.
Earlier this month, five minutes before he had to leave for work, Williams realized he won the Oregon Lottery’s Win for Life game. Williams, a regular Win for Life player, noticed his tickets while getting ready for work, and used the Lottery’s mobile app to scan the tickets.
“I had three or four tickets and I saw the story of the guy who put his Megabucks ticket through the washing machine and decided to check my tickets before work,” Williams said. “When I saw the animations on the app that I had won, I just kept scanning.”
Williams said he wanted to see the animations the mobile app plays when you scan a winning ticket -- blue confetti, fireworks, balloons and many others. He also couldn’t believe he won.
“I was so shocked, I ended up calling work and telling them I would be late,” he said. “I worked my shift, but obviously I had other things on my mind.”
With all of his major life changes in the past year, all he could say was, “Great timing!”
Williams purchased the winning ticket at the Fred Meyer on NE Glisan, in Portland and officials with the company said they were excited to have sold the top prize and were proud to be an Oregon Lottery retailer.
Fred Meyer will receive a retailer selling bonus of $13,000 for producing the winning ticket.
During the 2018 fiscal year, more than $90.1 million in Oregon Lottery proceeds were directed to economic development, parks, education, Outdoor School, Veterans services and watershed enhancement in Multnomah County, where Williams lives and purchased the ticket. Since 1985, Oregon Lottery players have won more than $38 billion in prizes.
The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 are advised to contact the Lottery office and schedule an appointment to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $12 billion for economic development, public education, Outdoor School, state parks, Veterans services and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org