N.M. man takes $1 million winning lottery ticket in stride

Aug 9, 2007, 9:00 am (2 comments)

Hot Lotto

When Vancouver resident Sally Tallmadge read the winning numbers for Washington state's lottery last month in her local newspaper, what she saw made her cry.

She had won half-a-million dollars.

Upon learning the good news, she broke out in tears and screams of joy.

Donna Galloway of Denver, had a similar tearful response, when she learned she had won $200,000 in the Powerball drawing in March.

But as far as anyone can tell, when local resident Edward Boyd won $1 million, he showed little emotion and certainly did not cry.

Boyd's friend of three years, Dan Klepac, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Cornerstone Realty, who drove the 51-year-old Farmington man to Albuquerque on Tuesday to verify his winning number and collect his prize, told The Daily Times that Boyd did not act as though anything in his life had changed.

On the drive down to the New Mexico Lottery Office, Klepac was shocked that Boyd was so "calm and collected."

"Hey, I can't believe you're not hanging onto the ceiling of my car, screaming out the window," Klepac told Boyd.
Boyd was said to have remarked something to the effect that it wasn't that big of a deal.

"That's what amazed me more than him winning $1 million, was the way that he took it," Klepac said. "I was more excited than him. He kept saying, What's there to be excited about? It will make my life easier (but that's it).'"

Tuesday morning, Boyd checked a $5 lottery ticket at the 7-2-11 Food Store at 900 Schofield Lane in Farmington where he bought it.

The Hot Lotto ticket that would win him half of a $2 million jackpot was kept in a surprising location: a trash bag in Boyd's living room. The bag was filled with the contents, including the ticket, Boyd had removed from his truck after he cleaned it in preparation for selling it.

Tuesday, three days after the New Mexico Lottery announced the winning numbers as 3, 11, 18, 34, 38 and the red Hot Lotto of 3, Boyd was walking by the 7-2-11 store he regularly visits when around 9 a.m. he decided to stop in and check the ticket.

When his numbers matched the winning combination, the store's manager, Dennis Buser, was called by a stunned cashier for assistance.

What amazed Buser was how reserved Boyd was — for someone who won what faces odds of 1 in 11 million, he was fairly calm.

"He was somewhat excited but he wasn't jumping up and down. ... I would have done a cheer" in his shoes, Buser said.

After making Boyd sign the ticket as a safety precaution, and helping him contact the Lotto Office, Buser helped out in one other important respect: Over the phone he told Boyd's daughter that her father was indeed telling the truth that he had won the lottery.

"I verified his story that he actually won it" to his daughter, the manager said.

A little bit later, after calmly explaining to Klepac that he had won the lottery and needed a ride to Albuquerque, his friend agreed to help him out.

Boyd sees no reason why he should get worked up about winning $1 million.

"I don't understand what the need is to get all crazy just because you have more money than you did yesterday," Boyd said.

He said that he was practical and cool-headed about winning what to many is a dream come true because he had everything he wanted before hitting it big.

"I am already content. I got everything I want. I even have a little bit of what I don't want," he said.

When asked what he plans to do with his winnings, he responded that he is going to invest in his family, and that's about it.

"The only thing I am going to do with my money is get my family out of debt ... and clear the slate," he said.

After helping his teenage daughter and his son, he plans on investing in real estate.

Linda Hamlin, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Lottery, said Boyd was a unique breed of winner.

"Every player is different. ... There are some who are shaking. Sometimes they can't even talk. Then you have players who are beaming from ear to ear. There are players who embrace you. He was just a cool, calm, collected (winner)," she said.

Boyd struck Hamlin as someone who is already content in life and has all he could want. One million dollars isn't going to change that.

Daily Times

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DoubleDown

Congratulations to all the winners and let's hear it for Mr. Boyd !!Hurray!

Seems like a very level headed guy and his plans are very logical.

WTG !!!

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

The Lottery always needs a story with a different angle. So this time it's about someone who is very cool.  I think the emotions when winning a million dollars can be expressed like any other life changing event.  I've even seen people look very calm during a crisis like losing a loved one, but I know they are struggling with their emotions privately.  I once witnessed and accident and acted very cool & calm while waiting for the ambulance to arrive and giving details to the police.  I went home and threw up and had nightmares for months.  On a lighter side, I've gotten a good job or a raise and just smiled and said "thank you" and then got far away from sight, pulled my car over and started to jump up and down like a fool yelling "whoopee!!" 

On the other hand, this man said he was already financially sound, so this is just a big bonus to him and he can help his family, which is a wonderful goal.  Congratulations to Mr. Boyd. 

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