Includes video report
LANSING, Mich. — A western Michigan man said he quit his job so he could show up to qualify for the lottery drawing Monday night in Detroit, and it paid off.
David Becker, of Wyoming, Michigan, is a high-low operator for a Grand Rapids-based company. Becker said he requested Monday off to get down to Detroit for the lottery drawing during the fireworks. He said when his work did not grant him the day off, he quit.
Becker is a retired General Motors worker and is collecting a pension. He said he would at least get $5,000 even if he lost to one of the four other contestants.
"It's a chance of a lifetime," Becker said.It sure was. Becker won $250,000 before taxes. He described his shock when the drawing wheel stopped on his color.
"It was stopping and I thought blue won," Becker said. "Then it went to yellow. I stumbled a little and said a naughty word."
Becker went to Lansing on Tuesday to cash in his winnings — about $176,000 after taxes, he said.
"I can live on that, can't you?" Becker said.
He said he will treat himself to a Harley Davidson motorcycle and the rest will go to bills.
Becker said one of his winning lottery tickets was one he picked up off the ground at a Wyoming Speedway gas station.
"I'm cheap," he said.
He said he would consider returning to work if the company takes him back because "he has to do something."
Congrats Mr Becker, Enjoy your win.
nice story. hard to believe, but nice story anyway...there is no way his company would considering the circumstances of his being guaranteed at least 5000k for the drawing not allow him the day off...the more i think about it the more unbelievable it is...why did they need him to work that bad to deny him his drawing...totally fabricated story on all counts...
When I read he found the winning ticket, I thought, OK here is trouble. But the video with the story clarified the situation. He found a losing ticket and entered it into a second chance drawing. I doubt if anyone can complain about that.
I always thought you were supposed to win the lottery and then quit your job, not the other way around!
I too find it hard to believe 2, but stranger things has happen. So just maybe it it is true.
He's living his life knowing he took the risk and made it.
Would be kinda hard living off $176K. Especially after dropping money down on a new Harley & Paying bills.
NICE!
How 'bout becoming disabled and then winning the Lottery ...........
just sayin'
Congrats Mr. Becker........
Well, dpoly1, I suppose it would be better than intentionally becoming disabled TO WIN the lottery.
B$Rizzle I believe he's collecting a pension from GM....
Congrats Mr.Becker, hope you can get your job back.
hello everyone, rookie here,hard to believe his co. would't give him the day off. his job as a high-low operator(what is that?)is a retirement job.if a person was in a career position they could't risk quiting for this.
He is collecting pension from GM (Generous Motors) so this money will not be desperately needed, I think.
He probably owns a fully paid home and has other investments.
Must be an eccentric or sick of his job!
HA-HA thats good, been calling it Generous Moters since before i was old enough to drive.
Good for him. The fact that he had to quit gives us a little info on what his company thought of him.
I think that mighta been my ticket he picked up.
I gotta call the ACLU.
I might be willing to settle out of court though.
Long as he don't try rippin' me off.
I really like the new Escalades.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
There's nothin' like an "In - Yo - Face".....kind'a win!!
good point, but why is he willing to take the job back!
buy american,baby!
under further investigation of this i believe his company wanted him out and just used this as an excuse to move him out the door without having to pay his unemployment. getting him to quit was company wise move that most companies dream of getting into with unwanted employees...
the man had a GUT FEELING that "tonite was his nite bro" (from the movie TWINS). If it were me...I would have called in ...took the absence...stayed in a nice hotel for two nights and go back to work after the second day. ROFLMAO! We get a two fer one at my job!
more than one way to skin a cat!!!!
T.S.A.R. =that sounds about right. cos.always have people on their dump list,and these are the people that are denied reasonable requests,but if he's on that list i don't know why he expects to regain the job
I agree with you-fwlarence and after the lousy bad day I had at work yesterday, all I could do today was daydream about winning the lottery big time cause I certainly couldn't quit on the $11.00 I won on last Saturday's Super Lotto
I'm guessing that he probably was at his job telling everyone and anyone who would listen about his chance at hitting 6 figures. Probably the talk of his employment for some time. Most likely was told that if he called out, he would be let go. So he quit. Because it makes no sense to just quit.
He may have investments but if he is like most people, he would say buying a Harley is an investment because it retains some value or in some cases can sell for more than original purchase price. I would say his biggest investment is probably the pension he is receiving from GM...most people who knew they were entitled to a pension likely spent most of paycheck on necessities and toys.
I told my hubby about this story, I also told him don't even think about...LOL... then I realized Oklahoma dosen't have a lottry game show...
Give the state a suggestion, maybe if enough people write in they will consider it.
I completely believe him!! I had a chance to visit the lockerroom of an NFL team after a game and work wouldn't let me off. They said I would be fired. So I didn't go and have regretted it ever since.
He was old enough and wise enough to learn from life's lessons. He knew he'd regret it if he didn't go, so he went!
BTW - my Father is retired and works for a company that hires retirees - and they treat them the same way! Now, they used to be awesome employers, but when the economy tanked, they started cutting everything, including respect. I can totally see them doing this.
Congratulations to this man. Why did he quit his job?
cause they would't give him a day off, to go to a live draw where he had a good chance of winning.
I don't know about OK but in TN the suggestion box is a shredder.
Suggestions?
Suggestions, Senor?
We don't need no stinking suggestions!
haw-haw tryin to pic.humprey bogart asking for suggestions.