True to promise, pals share $1 million lottery jackpot

Apr 25, 2011, 8:51 am (19 comments)

New York Lottery

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Eula Webb, 75, wanted to get some milk from the store, so she asked her friend Sam Cricci, 80, if he wanted to come along and buy some milk, too.

"I wanted to keep him active," she said.

They went to the Associated Supermarket on Fulton Street, got their milk, bought a couple of lottery tickets — one for Webb, one for Cricci — from a machine, and went home.

Webb scratched her Empire State Millionaire ticket and got nothing. Cricci scratched his ticket and won the jackpot: $1 million.

Their agreement was always to buy the tickets together and share any prizes. That's how both Webb and Crecci, residents of Middletown, ended up in front of TV cameras Friday morning at the same supermarket where they bought the tickets.

"We're here to award a million dollars to a couple of your neighbors," announced lottery celeb Yolanda Vega as surprised shoppers walked by.

"What, they doin' a rap video?" said one passing man in a do-rag.

Cricci is a retired maintenance and security worker in New York City and at West Point. Webb is a retired Horton Hospital secretary of 21 years. Neither seemed comfortable in front of the camera.

"Did you think about keeping the winning ticket for yourself and not telling her?" a reporter asked Cricci.

No, he said, without hesitation.

The two friends were the second winners of the Empire State Millionaire jackpot since the game started in March. The odds of winning the game are one in 2.6 million.

They were also the second Orange County winners in two months of a million-dollar state lottery game.

Guy Pennisi of Warwick won on a Minute to Win It ticket instant game in March.

When the interview ended, Cricci and Webb quickly made their way to the door, avoiding the throng of reporters.

"No more," Webb said, as she dismissed the media and headed out toward a more prosperous future. 

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Times Herald-Record

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

It's good to hear of honest, non-greedy people winning a big one and sharing like this.

Great story.

sully16's avatarsully16

Wonderful story, congrats to the winners, enjoy !

GamerMom's avatarGamerMom

What a lovely story to start off the week!

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Awesome storyThumbs Up!!!!!congrats to both winnersHurray!

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

This is a great story !

Big Grin

 

But really, Indiana wins 2 Powerball Jackpots in a row & New York won the last 2 Mega Millions Jackpots after Indiana taking the Jackpot February 1st!

Thud

shelby50

How sweet is that!! wonderful story, love it.

buttercake's avatarbuttercake

Love reading these kind of stories.

 

Congrats to both Eula and Sam who look nothing like their age stated but a lot younger.

 

Wonderful

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Wow. I didn't see it coming. Congratulations to this winner.

nickey t's avatarnickey t

that's cute but they should totally date [if they aren't already] Yes Nod

HiFi's avatarHiFi

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Apr 25, 2011

It's good to hear of honest, non-greedy people winning a big one and sharing like this.

Great story.

i think the man's age has something to do with his non greediness

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

"What, they doin' a rap video?" said one passing man in a do-rag..........REALLY!!!!!!!!ROFLROFLLOL......

kyokushin187's avatarkyokushin187

I thought i was the only one who noticed that comment.

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

Quote: Originally posted by dpoly1 on Apr 25, 2011

This is a great story !

Big Grin

 

But really, Indiana wins 2 Powerball Jackpots in a row & New York won the last 2 Mega Millions Jackpots after Indiana taking the Jackpot February 1st!

Thud

I am glad I am not the only one who noticed this recent trend.   This is something that makes you go, "Hhhhmmmmmmm!"  It is high time Illinois gets in on the winning streak.  And if that doesn't happen, I plan to make visits to California and Florida and purchase multi-draw tickets at both locations.  Hopefully, I can get lucky somewhere.

butterflykt's avatarbutterflykt

Quote: Originally posted by dallascowboyfan on Apr 25, 2011

"What, they doin' a rap video?" said one passing man in a do-rag..........REALLY!!!!!!!!ROFLROFLLOL......

WOW is all I can say....a rap video in a grocery store....ok?!?  They are indeed true friends.

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