Defense worker wins $217 million Powerball jackpot

Feb 16, 2013, 8:25 am (58 comments)

Powerball

Includes video report

RICHMOND, Va. — A husband and wife who work for the Department of Defense won the Virginia Lottery's $217 million Powerball jackpot, the second-largest lotto prize the state has ever awarded.

Dave and Nancy Honeywell of Fredericksburg, Va. both work for the Defense Department.

Dave Honeywell, a computer scientist, bought the winning ticket at one of Richmond International Airport's Lottery Express stations when he left for a business trip to Denver on Feb. 6.

His winning numbers were 5-27-36-38-41, chosen randomly through Easy Pick's computer system. His prize is the state's first Powerball jackpot win, the Virginia Lottery said.

According to the Virginia Lottery, Honeywell said that he plans to continue working for six weeks to finish work.

After they spoke to reporters at the press conference, the Honeywells declined to comment further to the media.

On Valentine's Day, he and his wife, a project manager, received a giant check at the spot where he bought the ticket. They chose the one-time cash option of $136.4 million before taxes.

VIDEO: Watch the award ceremony

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

i know that shakey feeling. when i was watching a draw and was 1 number away  from the pot i thought my heart would burst. I was only in my 20's back then.

gratz to them, good luck keeping sane, and happy.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congratulations to the Honeywells....Thumbs Up

Piaceri

Congrats to the winners! Dance

 

They look like nice people. Best of luck to them and their future endeavours. White Bounce

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats and enjoy.

Toronto

What a circus. This is why I play in Maryland, a state that allows anonymity, rather than Virginia, which can force you into a press conference.

mightwin's avatarmightwin

Quote: Originally posted by Toronto on Feb 16, 2013

What a circus. This is why I play in Maryland, a state that allows anonymity, rather than Virginia, which can force you into a press conference.

I wonder how pissed the lottery would be if you got up and just stood at the podium and not say a single word and just looked around the room........would be a little awkward but id do it

Toronto

Quote: Originally posted by mightwin on Feb 16, 2013

I wonder how pissed the lottery would be if you got up and just stood at the podium and not say a single word and just looked around the room........would be a little awkward but id do it

I'm sure the lottery folks and media would make it into a spectacle no matter what little you say.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I think the overwhelming majority of major jackpot winners are mostly aloof about the whole process. They heard there's a big jackpot and so they say "what the hell" and buy a quickpick or two and take a chance.

So what the hell, I'm going aloof...

If I win this way, I'll explain it all in my book.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I wish the Honeywell's the best on their good fortune.

RedStang's avatarRedStang

That would drive me nuts if i walked in a room full of people waving white sticks. Looks like a Highschool Football rally. I would try and sneak behind them and screw up their party.

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

Man, they won my money! Oh how it irks me when infrequent players win. No I am not politically correct, but I am not jealous or envious either...those folks are the ones who hit up lottery winners for a handout, and I would never do that even if I was broke. Well, when I win, I want to be a one-time comedian...and then go under the radar to enjoy those millions.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by savagegoose on Feb 16, 2013

i know that shakey feeling. when i was watching a draw and was 1 number away  from the pot i thought my heart would burst. I was only in my 20's back then.

gratz to them, good luck keeping sane, and happy.

Wow, savagegoose, though I've been playing PB and MM, each draw for years, what you speak of has never happened to me.  Thanks for sharing your recollections of that shocking day for you, it pulled me into that feeling!

Lurking

Ronnie316

Smart people take the cash option.

Toronto

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Feb 16, 2013

Smart people take the cash option.

Would you take the cash option if you were living in the 70s and early 80s? When taxes were 70%+? When interest rates were ~10% or nearing 20%?!

You'd be poorer today than the person who took the annuity, and investing in the stock market, you would have accept considerably more risk and volatility in your portfolio vs. taking a risk-free government bond.

Not always smart to take the cash option.

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