A Tyler man is a little richer after winning $1 million in the Texas Lottery.
Ralph Hilts, a custodian at Lindale Independent School District, originally won $50 playing a scratch-off card, but instead of stopping he spent the money he won on a ticket for the $130 Million Spectacular - which he also won.
"I scratched the ticket with a quarter and I thought to myself I'd won something," he said. "I asked the clerk to run it through his terminal and the message came up that the cashing limit had been exceeded."
Hilts carried that printout, along with several forms of identification when he traveled to the lottery headquarters in Austin on Monday to redeem his ticket.
While redeeming his prize of $1 million, Hilts remained cool.
"I'm not going to get excited until I've got the prize in my hands," he said.
The Tyler man said he plans to spend his money by purchasing a Dodge pickup and paying off his bills. He also said he plans to continue playing the lottery.
Hilts purchased both winning tickets at the Scooters No. 1 Store on Troup Highway. The store is eligible to receive a bonus of $10,000 for having sold the ticket.