Ornery dog leads to $1M lottery win

Feb 11, 2013, 8:10 am (56 comments)

Powerball

SALT LAKE CITY — A group of blue collar University of Utah workers will split $1 million in lottery winnings thanks to a set of keys left in a truck and an ornery little dog named "Stella."

Thirteen years after playing the same set of numbers every month in the Idaho lottery, the group of 33 workers who work on heating and cooling university buildings hit pay dirt when Steve Hughes left his truck running to keep his dog "Stella" warm while he went inside to a gas station near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, on Jan. 6. Utah has no lottery.

When he returned to his truck, his miniature pinscher had locked him out by putting her paw on the manual lock. Hughes, 29, planned to buy the ticket elsewhere, but instead he had his girlfriend buy it there while he tried to open the door with a slim jim.

He eventually coached Stella to put her paws on the electronic window button in the back seat, allowing Hughes to get in the car.

What seemed like an annoying delay that day turned out to be serendipitous when the group discovered Wednesday night that they had won second prize in the Idaho Powerball. They announced the great news during a morning meeting Thursday morning at the HVAC shop at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Hughes thought it was a joke — looking for the camera filming the prank.

"It was pretty exciting," said Richard Tison, 50, the supervisor.

About 25 members of the group made the 5 1/2-hour trip on a charter bus to Boise, Idaho, on Friday to turn in their winning ticket and collect their checks. The rest had to stay behind to make sure the university's buildings were toasty on the cold winter day, Tison said.

It was a raucous ride on the bus, with the crew making it a "party bus" atmosphere as they celebrated their good fortune. After collecting their money, the group planned to climb back on board the bus for the journey home — though some suggested they might stop off at a watering hole in Boise to contemplate their winnings.

Tison and Hughes say they will each get about $20,000 after taxes, or as Hughes said, "A nice little bonus during the year."

Hughes plans to save half of his share and buy a four-wheeler. Many in the group plan to buy four-wheelers or drag cars, he said. Some are going to save or invest it.

"I'm going to pay off some bills and probably get me a boat," Tison said.

Hughes' dog, "Stella," didn't get to go on Friday's "party bus" but the lucky winners had previously made sure she was rewarded.

"She got a couple of big surprises when I got home," Hughes said. "She got 18-inch rawhide bones."

The group began buying the tickets in February 2001 with just three people. The pool grew to 33 people, but the philosophy of using the same numbers never changed.

Recently, some in the group suggested they change the numbers — fed up with 13 years of futility. But Tison, one of the original three, insisted they stay the course. Hughes estimates that they've each put in $200 to $400 over the years, depending on how long they've been in the group.

Tison said they plan to keep playing the Idaho Powerball, taking turns making the monthly 1 1/2-hour drive to Malad, Idaho, to pick up a ticket.

And yes, Tison says they'll keep playing the same numbers: 11-16-33-40-41.

"There is no need to change them," Tison said. "It worked once, why wouldn't it work again."

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

AP

Comments

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congratulations to the winners.... WTG StellaHurray!

rock_nc's avatarrock_nc

Congratulation to all the winners! You know I was in a group for almost as long as that, close to 10 years at my work, we only had 10 folks in our group. We did play one set of numbers along with our quick picks too. But it never won us anything with them numbers. The most we every won playing all them years, was about 150.00 dollars. We took turns driving to Virginia to buy the tickets, that was before nc and sc had the lottery. I remember the time ole Jack Whittaker won the Jackpot, we went to VA and bought 200.00 dollars worth of tickets for that draw. But it didn't play out for us, we won I think about 30.00 dollars total on them tickets. But it was fun playing while it lasted.

Then SC got the lottery, we was happy about that, still had little wins here and there, nothing to bragg about, put the money back in the pot and buy more tickets with it. Then NC got the lottery, Played it until I left the company.  But things change, and you must move on.

joshuacloak's avatarjoshuacloak

i don't see how the hell dog had  anything 2 do with it

now if it was A QP ,then u can say dog X leaded 2 win

but they don't do QP, they pick there own numbers

it does NOT matter where they got the tickets, long as they got the tickets for that draw

 

 they always play same numbers,

they would of had numbers played for that draw regardless of that dog lockout

the  group had already paid for the tickets,

he was going 2 get them same numbers any where else before draw

 

, so how the hell is dog leading 2 the win?!

also gg being locked put by your own dog

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

"The pool grew to 33 people, but the philosophy of using the same numbers never changed."

If they won using numbers they picked, how does the fact that the dog locked the guy out of the truck make any difference? I mean if they won with Quick Picks then I'd understand because going to a different place to buy the ticket and buying the ticket at a different time may have resulted in different numbers but like the article said they played numbers they picked themselves so it wouldn't have mattered where they bought the ticket.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Thirteen years after playing the same set of numbers every month in the Idaho lottery, the group of 33 workers who work on heating and cooling university buildings hit pay dirt

That sentence gives me some confidence that my numbers, which I have played on and off for 7 years, will one day hit pay dirt. 

And yes, Tison says they'll keep playing the same numbers: 11-16-33-40-41.

Is that very smart? o_O

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by joshuacloak on Feb 11, 2013

i don't see how the hell dog had  anything 2 do with it

now if it was A QP ,then u can say dog X leaded 2 win

but they don't do QP, they pick there own numbers

it does NOT matter where they got the tickets, long as they got the tickets for that draw

 

 they always play same numbers,

they would of had numbers played for that draw regardless of that dog lockout

the  group had already paid for the tickets,

he was going 2 get them same numbers any where else before draw

 

, so how the hell is dog leading 2 the win?!

also gg being locked put by your own dog

I Agree! I was thinking the same thing.

Ronnie316

Sounds like a drinking party was planned at the "watering hole"

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Feb 11, 2013

Thirteen years after playing the same set of numbers every month in the Idaho lottery, the group of 33 workers who work on heating and cooling university buildings hit pay dirt

That sentence gives me some confidence that my numbers, which I have played on and off for 7 years, will one day hit pay dirt. 

And yes, Tison says they'll keep playing the same numbers: 11-16-33-40-41.

Is that very smart? o_O

Now that the numbers are public, I may add them to the list that I play.

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Feb 11, 2013

Thirteen years after playing the same set of numbers every month in the Idaho lottery, the group of 33 workers who work on heating and cooling university buildings hit pay dirt

That sentence gives me some confidence that my numbers, which I have played on and off for 7 years, will one day hit pay dirt. 

And yes, Tison says they'll keep playing the same numbers: 11-16-33-40-41.

Is that very smart? o_O

Personally, I wouldn't play them because what are the chances those same numbers will be picked again in our lifetime. I would think very slim. If these numbers were picked again in the next draw then that would be a real news story.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Feb 11, 2013

Now that the numbers are public, I may add them to the list that I play.

Really? I suppose they stand as small a chance as any other set of numbers but playing them again in the same game? I would probably play them in MM

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by whiteballz on Feb 11, 2013

Personally, I wouldn't play them because what are the chances those same numbers will be picked again in our lifetime. I would think very slim. If these numbers were picked again in the next draw then that would be a real news story.

If that case I will play them on the next draw for sure in case that happens. After all, any single combination has just as good a chance as any other single combination. Let the super duper double scooper begin. lol.

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Feb 11, 2013

Really? I suppose they stand as small a chance as any other set of numbers but playing them again in the same game? I would probably play them in MM

I play the same lines on both games anyway, so I'm covered there.

noise-gate

Like l always says-
Whats good for the goose is good for the gander..
Oh Stella..

You go dog.Hyper

Ronnie316

Hot-diggity-dog!!Banana (or banana)

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Feb 11, 2013

Hot-diggity-dog!!Banana (or banana)

WTG! DogI Agree!

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Quote: Originally posted by joshuacloak on Feb 11, 2013

i don't see how the hell dog had  anything 2 do with it

now if it was A QP ,then u can say dog X leaded 2 win

but they don't do QP, they pick there own numbers

it does NOT matter where they got the tickets, long as they got the tickets for that draw

 

 they always play same numbers,

they would of had numbers played for that draw regardless of that dog lockout

the  group had already paid for the tickets,

he was going 2 get them same numbers any where else before draw

 

, so how the hell is dog leading 2 the win?!

also gg being locked put by your own dog

Right. Would of blamed the dog if the headline said "Pinscher runs over million dollar winner".

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

happy dance emoticon

luckyshoes's avatarluckyshoes

33 players sharing 1 million......after taxes.......oh my....

A win is a win is a win !  Congrats to them

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by joshuacloak on Feb 11, 2013

i don't see how the hell dog had  anything 2 do with it

now if it was A QP ,then u can say dog X leaded 2 win

but they don't do QP, they pick there own numbers

it does NOT matter where they got the tickets, long as they got the tickets for that draw

 

 they always play same numbers,

they would of had numbers played for that draw regardless of that dog lockout

the  group had already paid for the tickets,

he was going 2 get them same numbers any where else before draw

 

, so how the hell is dog leading 2 the win?!

also gg being locked put by your own dog

Take a look at that picture. Are YOU going to tell those guys the dog didn't help?

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Feb 11, 2013

Take a look at that picture. Are YOU going to tell those guys the dog didn't help?

That being the case, why not just let this genius dog do all the future betting?

As long as the dog has the cash and filled out bet slips, who needs the other guys?

Just make sure when the dog wins the jackpot he takes the lump sum, not the annuity, as most dogs rarely make it past twenty.

maximumfun's avatarmaximumfun

way to go puppy!  you encouraged them to... do exactly what they were going to do anyhow!  whoo-hoo!

(and a hearty congrats out to the winners... every 14k+ helps!

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats to the lucky 33, wtg Stella

Ronnie316

Lucky dogs.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Did I miss something or does the article say that 33 guys are chipping in on one ticket (one line)?

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Feb 11, 2013

Did I miss something or does the article say that 33 guys are chipping in on one ticket (one line)?

Good question. They buy 10 draws at a time out of state. That be a whopping $20. for PB.

Ronnie316

It say they be playin a "set of numbers" and they will keep playing "the set" 11 - 16 - 33 - 40 - 41

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

I guess we can assume that the people from Utah are 'Jack' Mormons (Mormons that don't follow all the rules).

The dog probably isn't a Mormon and as far as what the dog has to do with it, well, not everybody is as informed about lotto as the people here on LP, the press probably sees it as a great hunab (and dog) interest story, and as the late Kurt Vonnegu Jr said so often in his books, "That moment in time was structured that way".

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Feb 11, 2013

I guess we can assume that the people from Utah are 'Jack' Mormons (Mormons that don't follow all the rules).

The dog probably isn't a Mormon and as far as what the dog has to do with it, well, not everybody is as informed about lotto as the people here on LP, the press probably sees it as a great hunab (and dog) interest story, and as the late Kurt Vonnegu Jr said so often in his books, "That moment in time was structured that way".

I Agree! After all, the dog did roll down the window and let them get back in.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

This story is written in an odd manner. So he did not plan to buy a ticket when he went inside the gas station but sent his Gf to buy one when the dog locked the car door? My question:  what made him send her to get the ticket there?  It is not like he was locked out for hours.  This reminds me of the stories in the Huffington Post.."Woman finds unbelievable thing inside her car !" (I thought..oh my...a snake?...a tarantula?, a bear?). it turned out to be a puppy.

faber98

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Feb 11, 2013

Did I miss something or does the article say that 33 guys are chipping in on one ticket (one line)?

 my thoughts exactly "ridge". let's dismiss the dog angle which had no bearing on this. it seems incredulous that 33 people would chip in for one paltry combination. i mean sure they could all risk 2.00 and someone makes that long drive to buy it for the next 33 draws(which i'm not sure you could actually do) and then 4 monthes later go around and collect a lousy deuce from everyone and do it again. it worked and they're happy with their payday but......it seems an odd way to conduct a pool....if they did buy quick pics along with this 1 everytime combo, strange that their alleged lucky numbers won instead of possibly 32 quick pics did. i sorta fail to understand this story.

Ronnie316

I think it more likely that each time a person join the pool they were allowed to bring a new line of numbers to the "set"....  that way the amount for each person to pay would never change, but the tickets being played would continue to increase. The interesting part is the numbers stayed in play once added.

I suppose if someone left the pool, the line they contributed could be discontinued.

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Feb 11, 2013

Did I miss something or does the article say that 33 guys are chipping in on one ticket (one line)?

Thats a wager thrifty would be proud of

Ronnie316

They were playing 10 draws at a time. So that $20. for 10 PB lines, divided by 33 people. 

Yes, Thrifty would be pround because the monthy contibution (per person) would be .60 as in 60 cent.

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Feb 11, 2013

They were playing 10 draws at a time. So that $20. for 10 PB lines, divided by 33 people. 

Yes, Thrifty would be pround because the monthy contibution (per person) would be .60 as in 60 cent.

they were trying to avoid lottery insanity. It's okay to dream.

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by whiteballz on Feb 11, 2013

they were trying to avoid lottery insanity. It's okay to dream.

I will buy a lottery ticket someday. I will win a jackpot someday.

faber98

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Feb 11, 2013

I think it more likely that each time a person join the pool they were allowed to bring a new line of numbers to the "set"....  that way the amount for each person to pay would never change, but the tickets being played would continue to increase. The interesting part is the numbers stayed in play once added.

I suppose if someone left the pool, the line they contributed could be discontinued.

trying to read between the lines of this poorly written story is a challenge. they would have to have someone fill out 8 cards with each persons new line of numbers plus 1 more line. then someone would have to drive to idaho twice a week under your supposition. i think these inexperienced powerball players actually did only play one line for 7 advance draws and then had to go back for the next 7 4 more times before the 66.00 was spent. i don't know and wish someone could get to the bottom of this one.

VenomV12

Seen this story a few different places and I have read and re-read this about 3 times and I don't see how the hell the dog had anything to do with this. They played the same numbers all the time and regardless of where he played the numbers it still would have won second place. I guess if you want to attach some luck to the dog, fine, but the reality is there is none. 

dr65's avatardr65

??
25 people went to turn in the ticket and collect their checks...I would have sent Stella for mine.
It's a good win but split that many ways? $20,000 would convince me to continue on alone and
dump the pool. 13 years is a long time to wait. Personally, I'd dump the winning number line too.
Come to think of it, I could win $20,000 in a lot less time than 13 years playing PA pick 3/4. No Nod
But anyway...
WTG winners What?

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

maybe ea of them play the same set of numbers on their own ticket and they  dont share the prize, they ea win it. as its 2nd prize?

 

hey that aint sounding too bad, who wants to come up with a set to always play 1 line on ea of us playing the exact same numbers,  it would suck if you hit th pot and split itm, but thats never going to happen.

faber98

Quote: Originally posted by savagegoose on Feb 12, 2013

maybe ea of them play the same set of numbers on their own ticket and they  dont share the prize, they ea win it. as its 2nd prize?

 

hey that aint sounding too bad, who wants to come up with a set to always play 1 line on ea of us playing the exact same numbers,  it would suck if you hit th pot and split itm, but thats never going to happen.

who pays for the gas for the 1 1/2 hour (one way or two) trip to idaho to buy but one combination every so often. it would cost more than the tickets by far for the gas they guzzle to keep this inane lottery pool going. i don't know savage, i don't think they bought it 33 times. i don't even they know what they are doing but it worked for 20k apiece so it must have been only one ticket, which once again reading this story they seemingly all chipped in on 2.00 divided by 33 is about .06 a piece per draw. absurd.....

mcginnin56

How about all of us here at LP (139,043), kick in for one line for tonight's MM drawing.

That would only set each of us back .000007192 cents each.  Type

If we hit tonight's jackpot for $13 million, we would all be $93 richer! Banana

We might also set the Guinness Book of world Records for the largest lottery pool ever.  Party

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

hehehe, im thinking it would be kool if we all bought the same 6 numbers and won second prize, now would that be kool or what? oh wait they wwouldnt pay up. 139k times second prize.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Stellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa  Steellllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could have been a contender!!! Where were you when I needed you?

I have been relegated to watching these posh pups at Westminster.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by mcginnin56 on Feb 11, 2013

That being the case, why not just let this genius dog do all the future betting?

As long as the dog has the cash and filled out bet slips, who needs the other guys?

Just make sure when the dog wins the jackpot he takes the lump sum, not the annuity, as most dogs rarely make it past twenty.

I Agree!, mcginnin56, sage advice!

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