GREENSBORO, N.C. — The owner of a Greensboro fast-food restaurant is once again relishing his good fortune with the N.C. Education Lottery.
Ralph Havis, who owns Beef Burger, won $1 million playing 100X The Cash — his third big lottery win in less than two years, and the second in less than a month.
Havis bought the ticket early Tuesday morning and claimed his prize that afternoon. After choosing the lump sum payment of $600,000 and, after federal and state taxes were withheld, Havis received $415,506. He said he plans to share some of the prize with his employees and put the rest in the bank.
Havis' first big win was many moons ago, and has nothing to do with the lottery. It's when he was with his soon-to-be wife, who has since passed away.
"She came in and ordered a fish sandwich. The whole time she stood in line, she was smiling. She was just so beautiful, it blinded me. I got her number from someone who knew her. I must have called her 50 times and she'd hang up on me," laughed Ralph, the 73-year-old longtime owner of the "Beef Burger" on Gate City Boulevard, as he remembered the early days with his wife, Alma. "She was my whole world. We took care of each other for 53 years. I never even looked at another woman. Why would I? She blinded me."
Alma died from complications from a stroke in January.
The two used to buy scratch-off lottery tickets for fun. Two years ago, Alma won $150,000.
In April, Ralph played the same scratch-off game, at the same location and won $150,000.
"I was like, 'Good God almighty.' Alma was my first thought. Always is. I know it was Alma and God shining down on me, I know it was," Ralph said with a tremble in his voice. "I'll be OK, but I'd give it all back with interest if I could have my Alma back."
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Wow.
I love these stories.
What a great lottery story. Now that's love.
WTG Ralph!
Halfway through this incredible story I started to choke up. The last line had me bawling like a baby. What a wonderful story!
when its ment to be its ment to be
Wow, what a touching story.
I'm at work - someone in the office must be cutting onions because my eyes are getting watery.
The lovely Alma Havis.
What a beautiful story...
Ok three top prizes in the same store, y'all better wake up nobody's that lucky, maybe he's the only person buying tickets at that store lol..
Beautiful story...
Awesome story I must say
Hands down the best lottery win story EVER!! And even though I'm not supposed to think it, I'm glad when it goes to someone who actually deserves it, in that he seems like a lovely person . Maybe a bit of a stalker in the beginning but otherwise a good and decent person. And nice of him to consider giving to his employees too.
There is no way in he!! he wins those jackpots without
dumping a $hit!oad of money on tickets etc.
The story makes it seem like he was a casual player.
That guy is a hardcore gambler.
We also had a 10 million dollar scratch off winner last week here in NC. I think he got like 4.1 mill after tax
Nice Win!
Don't judge a person without physically meeting them u are judging him in every way I see good lovely stalker etc etc haha
I cried when he said he would give it all back with interest if he could have his wife back. God bless him.
Awesome, Congrats Ralph.
Congratulations Ralph, maybe you should venture north. New Jersey on a roll, another $1 million on Mega Millions this week.
BTW, just found another tossed $5 winner in KY; this time bought MM with MP and PB with PP...maybe this time something will come in. Best of luck everyone!
If you believe, you'll see her again. stay healthy, God bless
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How somebody could just toss a lotto ticket (I assume it was a PB or MM ticket), is beyond me.
People simply don't get it.
Even if you throw away one ticket, and it turns out to be worth $2, that could be the finder's millions.
I don't understand people these days.
Maybe it's the heat? humidity?
.
Anyway, how about that New Jersey, winning so many doggone times, recently?
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Well Mr. BlueDog101, I hope it turns out to be something special for you.
.
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Mr. Chris-Chase,
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I never thought of that.
He probably buys whole spools of scratch-offs at a time.
(but likely not).
.
Mr. Groppo
It was a scratcher that I don't play found in the trash can next to big blue lottery machine..that makes $215 so far this year; same store. This one wasn't even scanned, bar code or security thing not scratched off.
He should stop playing these scratchers for chump change and go win mega millions tonight!
I like to see nice people win. To bad about his ex wife. I think she was smiling down on him. I hope he enjoys it in a healthy and happy way.
He didn't take your advice, or if he did, didn't win Mega Millions last night. Strange that NJ didn't have all five #'s for a change!
Ok. You win 1 million but take home only $400,000 +, NC state should be called the taxnificant state. Dang. THe game should
be called win $400,000 after taxes . Anyway, Congrats to him for the win. Hope his luck rubs off on the rest of us.
That's terrible, I shouldn't be lazy and look up your taxrate. In KY you get about $670K after all taxes, so the KY lottery says.