$200,000 Winner Comes Forward From April 7 Powerball Drawing; Missed Winning $1 Million By Not Choos

While Frank and Patricia Proud are still reeling from winning $1 million in the Powerball drawing held April 7, Jamie Simmons just found out that had he bought the Power Play multiplier option for a dollar extra, he would have won the same amount.

“I didn’t know anything about Power Play, so have never paid the extra dollar . . . $800,000 later, I’ve learned the lesson. . . I’ll sure buy it next time,” Simmons laughed.

Purchased from Giant Eagle in Granville, near Morgantown, the winning ticket was “Easy Pick,” whereby the retailer’s lottery terminal automatically picks the number. The PB number drawn was 33; the Proud’s Powerball number was 3; Simmons’ was 37. Both tickets would have shared the $125 million jackpot, had they matched that one number.

“What a difference a dollar makes,” said Lottery Director John Musgrave. “Powerball rules allow players who choose the Power Play option to automatically win $1 million, instead of $200,000, if they match all five of the white numbers.”

Simmons, 34, is the manager of an equipment rental company in Fairmont. A resident of Delaware, Ohio, he said he spends five days a week in the Morgantown area. “I pick up three tickets twice a month and don’t check them until I go back in to buy another ticket,” Simmons said.

Married and the father of two children, he said the prize money would be saved for college tuition, “and a family trip to Alaska.”

Asked if he regrets not winning the $1 million or $125 million prizes, Simmons quipped, “I haven’t complained yet. And my wife? Well, she’s still in shock and waiting to see the check.”