LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For one eastern Kentucky family, winning the lottery was so nice, they had to do it twice.
William Fannin of Hazard won a $50,000 Powerball ticket just three months after his daughter, Starla Fannin, won a $150,438.47 prize from playing the Merry Money Bonus Jackpot Instant Play game.
The Kentucky Lottery said William plays Powerball every week and would go to the same store for 25 years. However, he purchased the winning ticket at Zip Zone on East Main Street in Hazard, after Starla told him it sold a $50,000 ticket.
"She texted her mom about it but said, ‘It wasn’t sold where dad normally buys his tickets, so it can’t be him,’” William said.
William then took the ticket to a store to have it scanned, which came up at $50,000.
He went home to share the news with his wife, Freida, who asked if anything was wrong, before telling her about the winning ticket.
"And then we cried, both of us," Freida said.
The couple drove to the Kentucky Lottery headquarters to claim the ticket and walked away with a check for $36,000 after taxes. William said Starla was disappointed she couldn't join them on the trip home.
"She was probably more tickled than me,” William said. "She was so excited."
William retired four years ago after spending 30-plus years teaching and coaching basketball and said the extra money will come in handy. Zip Zone will receive $500 from selling the winning ticket, the Kentucky Lottery said.
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