Midlands man looking to retire after South Carolina Education Lottery win

A Sumter man was sitting on the couch at home, when suddenly he struck gold.

The $5 Carolina Jackpot ticket he bought at the Town and Country in Sumter turned out to be a winning ticket for $200,000.

He became emotional — he told lottery officials he “couldn’t stop crying.”

When he told his wife, she didn’t believe him.

“I must have told her 50 times,” the winner told the South Carolina Education Lottery.

The odds of winning were slim, only one in 720,000.

The winner is looking to retire so he and his wife can spend more time together.

Two top prizes remain in the Carolina Jackpot game.

The Town and Country that sold the winning ticket received a $2,000 commission.

Alexa Jurado

The State

Alexa Jurado is a news reporter for The State covering Lexington County and Richland County schools. She previously wrote about the University of South Carolina and contributes to this coverage. A Chicago suburbs native, Alexa graduated from Marquette University and previously wrote for publications in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Milwaukee Press Club and the South Carolina Press Association.