Once a week for the past three years, Rome (GA) millworker William Griffin laid aside $1 to purchase a Quick Pick lottery ticket, despite his wife's objections.
Last Saturday, Griffin — seeing that the Lotto South jackpot had reached $27 million — decided to splurge, plunking down $5 for five chances. It ended up being worth more than $15 million to Griffin, who won the largest Lotto South payout in history.
Griffin's prize will stand as Lotto South's largest. The Georgia-Kentucky-Virginia lottery game is being retired at the end of the month, more than four years after it began, in favor of a new contest that pays winners $1,000 a week for the rest of the winner's life.
The Lotto South jackpot for tonight's drawing is estimated at $2.5 million.
"I almost fainted," Griffin said when he learned of his outrageous fortune. "I called my 13-year-old son over to verify the numbers," he said.
Christopher Griffin was unfazed, according to his father: "Yes, Dad, they match ... so what?"
His wife, Rita, a secretary for an adult retirement community, was at first doubtful of her husband's newfound riches. "I called my wife and she didn't believe me," said Griffin, who beat the odds of about 14 million-to-one.
"I thought he was having a heart attack," his wife of 19 years responded. "He was breathing heavy and could hardly get the words out."
Both Griffins were breathing easier Friday as they held an oversized novelty check for $15,418,008 (the cash option total of the jackpot before taxes). No more counting pennies, as Rita Griffin put it. More important, no more worries about paying for their son's college tuition.
"That's been the main thing that's been hanging over our heads," Rita Griffin said. Before, they were betting on their 17-year-old son, Tristan, a senior at the private Darlington School in Rome, earning a HOPE scholarship, but "I don't think we'll need that anymore," William Griffin said.
The Rome native has worked as a millwright at the Temple-Inland Inc. paper mill for 32 years. He's not sure whether he'll return.
"I'm on vacation now," said Griffin, 49. "All they know is that I'm going to be on vacation for awhile."
His wife was less circumspect about her future. "I'm retired," she said with a smile when asked if she'd be returning to work.
As for the lottery, Rita Griffin said she's glad her husband ignored her advice and bought the ticket.
"She's not about the lottery," William Griffin said, recalling her needling: "You're never going to win, so why play?"
i love stories like these.it proves that we all have a chance if we stick to our guns,ignore the taunts and never give up.....if he would've lost she would've been on him about blowing 5 bucks.wow what a difference 15 million makes......
Thats nice!, I hope Mr. Griffin and his family all the happiness in the world and I hope that they are smart with their windfall. I amsure that his wife is glad that he did not listen to her objections and continue to purchase those tickets week after week. I can only hope to one day experience that feeling he haves right now. Good luck and God bless!
As for the lottery, Rita Griffin said she's glad her husband ignored her advice and bought the ticket. "She's not about the lottery," William Griffin said, recalling her needling: "You're never going to win, so why play?"
When this game is retired at the end of the month, there will be lots of other wives who thought as Rita Griffin that will be telling their unlucky husbands "Didn't I tell you, you were never going to win that game?" and they will have been proved right.
As for the lottery, Rita Griffin said she's glad her husband ignored her advice and bought the ticket. "She's not about the lottery," William Griffin said, recalling her needling: "You're never going to win, so why play?"
When this game is retired at the end of the month, there will be lots of other wives who thought as Rita Griffin that will be telling their unlucky husbands "Didn't I tell you, you were never going to win that game?" and they will have been proved right.
God help my wife if she was telling me I'd never win every time I bought my tickets and then I won the jackpot! I'd remind her (at each drawing time) about her negativity as I was spending the money as I wished, when I wished! I'd make sure she got her weekly $5 dollar lottery ticket allowance to play the lottery with!
She'd definitely wish she had been more supportive in a positive manner, if not at the very least somewhat optimistic that it could happen to me just as well as the next person!
>Griffin's prize [$15,418,008] will stand as Lotto South's largest. The Georgia-Kentucky-Virginia lottery game is being retired at the end of the month, more than four years after it began, in favor of a new contest that pays winners $1,000 a week for the rest of the winner's life.
You'd have to live 296 years to get to $15,400,000 getting $1000 a week. Can that really be true? And yet $1000 a week sounds like so much money.
One thing for sure, there could never be a sitcom based on this. In every TV show, the wife is always right and the husband is the bumbling oaf; placing his tail beween his legs and admiting he cannot survive without doing it her way.
I subscribe to Baristas' commentary. If your not going to be supportive during the play then dont expect to get the pay!. Unfortunately the laws are such that the spouse still gets half..
I'd go so far as to say...Um dear, Keep working, you still have your HALF of the bills to pay. *wink*
(This commentary is not to ruffle the feathers of those who do have supportive spouses or are married, its merely my opinion on how I would probably handle things)
What a story and the good news could not have happened to a nicer couple.
He had been playing 3 years? What about people who have been playing for 5, 7, or 10 years...and haven't been lucky, yet! Sorta reminds you of the lottery winner who complained he had been playing months...when he hit the big one! Months -- how could a person even think about posting months -- compared to years? Playing the lottery for months and winning is, in my opinion, a treat! Gee, ain't life grand!
God help my wife if she was telling me I'd never win every time I bought my tickets and then I won the jackpot! I'd remind her (at each drawing time) about her negativity as I was spending the money as I wished, when I wished! I'd make sure she got her weekly $5 dollar lottery ticket allowance to play the lottery with!
She'd definitely wish she had been more supportive in a positive manner, if not at the very least somewhat optimistic that it could happen to me just as well as the next person!
when i told her that I won I would also tell her to go upstairs and pack for the trip. She would say for the mountains or the beach? My response!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care just get the He!! out
I would just remind my wife the reason I kept playing against her better judgement was because I thought one day I would hit the jackpot.
After the win: every time I bought something extravagant or WE went somewhere nice it would be a reminder of just how :
smart
stubborn, or
stupid
I am.
Do we men realize just how lucky this guy is ? Yes, he was lucky to win, but even better, he was able to tell his wife "I told you so" and mean it !!!!
I decided not to mention I play the lottery any more. I get very strange looks and people often tell me it's a fool's game. So I'll wait until I win and then this fool will be the one laughing. It's nice to read a story where the winners say they plan to retire right away. So many people say they'll continue to show up for work which doesn't sound believable. This man has worked 32 years at a mill and he's 49 which means he's been there since age 17. I think he deserves a vacation! Good for them.
"I subscribe to Baristas' commentary. If your not going to be supportive during the play then dont expect to get the pay!. Unfortunately the laws are such that the spouse still gets half.."
I disagree with that comment. That type of thinking is petty. Marriage is about compromise and respecting each other. I don't believe there is a single word in the subject article where the husband even hints he's reluctant to share the money with his wife or is planning a divorce, so "the spouse still gets half" makes no sense here. They both worked for the money to pay their bills. When 2 people are married with a family they share a life together, share being the key word here. I'm sure both of them are thanking God for their good fortune.
Marriage is always about compromise - unless the wife has an opinion. Then it about doing what she says. Otherwise you're not compromising. Communications is always a requirement, unless yoiu say what you really feel; then you're being selfish. Getting along is always taking her feelings into consideration, if she doesn't want to go to the bar, she suddenly has the right to have some freedom. It's amazing how it works. There is Utopia, then there is the real world. Depends entirely on who you want for dinner.
Mmm maybe that's why I haven't married again (Hurray)! Compromise doesn't exist in any relationship, unless someone wants something! I guess I'm selfish, because I'll always tell it like it is! But I do give most people a chance to back out of whatever it was they had just asked, if I know what I was about to say could really hurt their feelings! And you know what, Most don't back out, they want it right between the eyes! And that's what I give them! But after that, they know not to ask my opinion unless they already know where I somewhat stand on the subject! Like I've said here before and I'll say it again, I shoot from the hip, I don't pull punches, I don't beat around the bush and I'll never sugar coat anything for anyone at anytime, so take me like I am or don't, it's their choice! I live my life that way everyday and that's my choice! I don't wear masks like most people do. Yes, most people have one mask for this group of friends and another for that group of friends. That's not being true to themselves nor to their so called friends! What's the matter with those people who wear the masks? Their afraid if most people see who they really are, they'll shy/run away from them in horror. Because in reality they are two different people but still the same and that scares the mask wearers to death!
My husband used to rag me about playing mega millions and powerball. I used to tell him the $4 dollars a week I spend on the lottery is much less than the $40 a week he spends on cigarettes, that didn't work so I told him if he didn't want a share of what I won I could always give half of it to my Mom. I won $10 and gave $5 to Mom now he askes if I have my ticket or if I need him to pick it up for me. Yes, I know it wouldn't hold up if it was a large amount but it was fun.
i love stories like these.it proves that we all have a chance if we stick to our guns,ignore the taunts and never give up.....if he would've lost she would've been on him about blowing 5 bucks.wow what a difference 15 million makes......
Thats nice!, I hope Mr. Griffin and his family all the happiness in the world and I hope that they are smart with their windfall. I amsure that his wife is glad that he did not listen to her objections and continue to purchase those tickets week after week. I can only hope to one day experience that feeling he haves right now. Good luck and God bless!
As for the lottery, Rita Griffin said she's glad her husband ignored her advice and bought the ticket.
"She's not about the lottery," William Griffin said, recalling her needling: "You're never going to win, so why play?"
When this game is retired at the end of the month, there will be lots of other wives who thought as Rita Griffin that will be telling their unlucky husbands "Didn't I tell you, you were never going to win that game?" and they will have been proved right.
As for the lottery, Rita Griffin said she's glad her husband ignored her advice and bought the ticket.
"She's not about the lottery," William Griffin said, recalling her needling: "You're never going to win, so why play?"
When this game is retired at the end of the month, there will be lots of other wives who thought as Rita Griffin that will be telling their unlucky husbands "Didn't I tell you, you were never going to win that game?" and they will have been proved right.
God help my wife if she was telling me I'd never win every time I bought my tickets and then I won the jackpot! I'd remind her (at each drawing time) about her negativity as I was spending the money as I wished, when I wished! I'd make sure she got her weekly $5 dollar lottery ticket allowance to play the lottery with!
She'd definitely wish she had been more supportive in a positive manner, if not at the very least somewhat optimistic that it could happen to me just as well as the next person!
I don't have that problem with my wife- she's just as dedicated as I am to the pursuit of the elusive jackpot.
>Griffin's prize [$15,418,008] will stand as Lotto South's largest. The Georgia-Kentucky-Virginia lottery game is being retired at the end of the month, more than four years after it began, in favor of a new contest that pays winners $1,000 a week for the rest of the winner's life.
You'd have to live 296 years to get to $15,400,000 getting $1000 a week. Can that really be true? And yet $1000 a week sounds like so much money.
tg636 said:
You'd have to live 296 years to get to $15,400,000 getting $1000 a week. Can that really be true? And yet $1000 a week sounds like so much money.
Win for life has a cash option of $520,000.
That would be the way to go if you hit it....
One thing for sure, there could never be a sitcom based on this. In every TV show, the wife is always right and the husband is the bumbling oaf; placing his tail beween his legs and admiting he cannot survive without doing it her way.
I subscribe to Baristas' commentary. If your not going to be supportive during the play then dont expect to get the pay!. Unfortunately the laws are such that the spouse still gets half..
I'd go so far as to say...Um dear, Keep working, you still have your HALF of the bills to pay. *wink*
(This commentary is not to ruffle the feathers of those who do have supportive spouses or are married, its merely my opinion on how I would probably handle things)
What a story and the good news could not have happened to a nicer couple.
He had been playing 3 years? What about people who have been playing for 5, 7, or 10 years...and haven't been lucky, yet! Sorta reminds you of the lottery winner who complained he had been playing months...when he hit the big one! Months -- how could a person even think about posting months -- compared to years? Playing the lottery for months and winning is, in my opinion, a treat! Gee, ain't life grand!
Why play? 'cause there is always that chance that the poor lotto-er will WIN! Glad you won!
NEVER tell the dreamer to stop dreaming! 
God help my wife if she was telling me I'd never win every time I bought my tickets and then I won the jackpot! I'd remind her (at each drawing time) about her negativity as I was spending the money as I wished, when I wished! I'd make sure she got her weekly $5 dollar lottery ticket allowance to play the lottery with!
She'd definitely wish she had been more supportive in a positive manner, if not at the very least somewhat optimistic that it could happen to me just as well as the next person!
when i told her that I won I would also tell her to go upstairs and pack for the trip. She would say for the mountains or the beach? My response!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care just get the He!! out
Wow, tough crowd !!!
I would just remind my wife the reason I kept playing against her better judgement was because I thought one day I would hit the jackpot.
After the win: every time I bought something extravagant or WE went somewhere nice it would be a reminder of just how :
smart
stubborn, or
stupid
I am.
Do we men realize just how lucky this guy is ? Yes, he was lucky to win, but even better, he was able to tell his wife "I told you so" and mean it !!!!
Carry on, dude !!!!!
It's all about luck. I hope the couple doesn't get financial problems down the road. Congratulations to the couple who won Lotto South.
I decided not to mention I play the lottery any more. I get very strange looks and people often tell me it's a fool's game. So I'll wait until I win and then this fool will be the one laughing. It's nice to read a story where the winners say they plan to retire right away. So many people say they'll continue to show up for work which doesn't sound believable. This man has worked 32 years at a mill and he's 49 which means he's been there since age 17. I think he deserves a vacation! Good for them.
"I subscribe to Baristas' commentary. If your not going to be supportive during the play then dont expect to get the pay!. Unfortunately the laws are such that the spouse still gets half.."
I disagree with that comment. That type of thinking is petty. Marriage is about compromise and respecting each other. I don't believe there is a single word in the subject article where the husband even hints he's reluctant to share the money with his wife or is planning a divorce, so "the spouse still gets half" makes no sense here. They both worked for the money to pay their bills. When 2 people are married with a family they share a life together, share being the key word here. I'm sure both of them are thanking God for their good fortune.
justexploring- Glad we can disagree respectfully. I stand by my opinion. :)
Bottom line- This gentleman is fair and definitely a kind soul to share with his family.
It's just not fair.
I ignore everything my wife says and I never win anything.
Marriage is always about compromise - unless the wife has an opinion. Then it about doing what she says. Otherwise you're not compromising. Communications is always a requirement, unless yoiu say what you really feel; then you're being selfish. Getting along is always taking her feelings into consideration, if she doesn't want to go to the bar, she suddenly has the right to have some freedom. It's amazing how it works. There is Utopia, then there is the real world. Depends entirely on who you want for dinner.
Mmm maybe that's why I haven't married again (Hurray)! Compromise doesn't exist in any relationship, unless someone wants something! I guess I'm selfish, because I'll always tell it like it is! But I do give most people a chance to back out of whatever it was they had just asked, if I know what I was about to say could really hurt their feelings! And you know what, Most don't back out, they want it right between the eyes! And that's what I give them! But after that, they know not to ask my opinion unless they already know where I somewhat stand on the subject! Like I've said here before and I'll say it again, I shoot from the hip, I don't pull punches, I don't beat around the bush and I'll never sugar coat anything for anyone at anytime, so take me like I am or don't, it's their choice! I live my life that way everyday and that's my choice! I don't wear masks like most people do. Yes, most people have one mask for this group of friends and another for that group of friends. That's not being true to themselves nor to their so called friends! What's the matter with those people who wear the masks? Their afraid if most people see who they really are, they'll shy/run away from them in horror. Because in reality they are two different people but still the same and that scares the mask wearers to death!
My husband used to rag me about playing mega millions and powerball. I used to tell him the $4 dollars a week I spend on the lottery is much less than the $40 a week he spends on cigarettes, that didn't work so I told him if he didn't want a share of what I won I could always give half of it to my Mom. I won $10 and gave $5 to Mom now he askes if I have my ticket or if I need him to pick it up for me. Yes, I know it wouldn't hold up if it was a large amount but it was fun.
Nice more fiona$ - a wife with a decent sense of humor is a luxury.
I bet he won't like the new Lose for Life game. He needs to concentrate on MM/PB now.