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NC Couple Claims SCEL's Jackpot

4/17/2007 2:52:36 PM

Columbia, SC: Dick Sandlin along with his wife, Colleen, arrived at the Lottery’s Columbia Claims Center 13 days after learning they held the winning $15 million Powerball® jackpot ticket.

“I called my CPA and a tax lawyer before we claimed the prize,” said 79-year-old Dick, of Wilmington, NC. “I’m still dreaming. I guess when I wake-up, I’ll jump up and down.”

Traveling from their summer home in Florida, Dick and Colleen purchased lottery tickets in every state along the way.

“We bought one in Florida; one in Georgia,” said Dick. “When we were approaching the North Carolina line, I told my wife we needed to purchase a Powerball ticket in South Carolina.”

They stopped by the Iron Skillet in Florence, but they only had scratch-off tickets. So they stopped by the Amoco Food Shop #3 on TV Road in Florence to quick pick their Powerball® numbers.

“The ticket really should be mine,” said Colleen. “He jumped in front of me in line.”

When asked what they plan to do with the money, “I’m going to buy a RC Cola and a Moon Pie,” said Dick.

The couple became the fourth South Carolina Powerball® jackpot winners on April 4, 2007. They chose to take the lump sum amount of $7.1 million before taxes.

“I’ll get the seven and he’ll get the one,” said Colleen. The couple will be married 50 years in October. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

The Sandlin’s plan to continue to purchase their lottery tickets in South Carolina. They feel luckier in the Palmetto State.

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