West Virginia Veteran Wins $25,000 Playing Cash 25

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave announced today that Ronald Stevens of Lochgelly has claimed a $25,000 grand prize from the West Virginia Lottery's Cash 25 game.

“I am just so joyful,” Stevens said. “I can't believe it.”

Stevens, a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, purchased the winning ticket at the One Stop (#7) in the Skyline Plaza Shopping Center in Oak Hill. His winning numbers were autopicked and he matched all six numbers for the August 16 Cash 25 drawing.

Stevens and his wife Myra claimed their prize on Friday at Lottery Headquarters in Charleston. The couple missed the nightly drawing on television because they were traveling between hospitals to visit loved ones. It was not until Ronald's brother-in-law, Forrest, told them that they might have a winner that they realized they matched all six numbers.

“He said you all better go home and check that on the computer, because I think those numbers came up,” Myra said. “Sure enough they did.”

Ronald said he plays Cash 25 regularly and sometimes picks his own numbers, however the winner this time was an auto pick selection.

The couple plans to use some of the money to help their daughter who is completing her senior year at Marshall University and make some improvements to their home.