Oregon Lottery: Oregon man wins lottery millionsA 37-year-old Medford construction worker claimed his prize from a $21.7 million Megabucks jackpot Monday and promptly went into seclusion.
Deron Hammond "needed a couple days" to contemplate the future after winning the second-largest prize in Megabucks history, said Ray Martin, a spokesman for the Oregon Lottery.
"He kind of shied away from publicity," Martin said.
But Hammond didnt shy away from Mondays presentation ceremony in Salem, where seven friends and family members accompanied him as he received a lump-sum check for $7,269,500.
Hammond won his prize Nov. 24 after buying a $5 Megabucks ticket at the Purple Parrot No. 9 on Central Avenue in Medford.
All six numbers on the first line of his ticket matched the winning sequence, making Hammond the 187th Megabucks millionaire.
An apparently cautious man, Hammond held onto the $21.7 million ticket and waited to claim his prize until he had consulted financial advisers.
"I wanted to be organized and make sure I was doing things right," he told Martin.
He chose the Lotterys "investment fund" option, which pays the winner half the advertised jackpot amount in a single lump-sum payment. Hammonds $7.2 million check represented the proceeds after taxes.
A vacation, a new vehicle and help for family and friends were among Hammonds first spending priorities, Martin added.
Staff at the Purple Parrot on Central heard the news on Monday, but so far, they havent seen the big winner.
"You mean to drop us a tip or something? No, we havent seen him," said Michael Rule, manager of the Purple Parrot.
Rule figures that Hammond is one of the stores "regulars," a crew of 50 folks who come by daily to take their chances.
"Weve had people win at Keno, thousands of dollars, $40,000 or $50,000," Rule said. "Hes the only $21 million winner."
Hammond is the 26th Megabucks winner from Jackson County to have won or shared in $68 million in prizes. Overall, there have been 187 Megabucks millionaires and players have won more than $517 million in prizes.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets in 1985, it has earned more than $3.3 billion for economic development, education and natural resource programs, Martin said. During that time, players have won more than $8.2 billion in prizes.
Rule said hosting a big winner boosts hope for others.
"A dollar and a dream, thats all it takes to play," he said.
