Quad Cities Man Wins $1 Million Mega Millions® Prize
Bob Hollenback Claims Big Prize in Oct. 23 Drawing
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CLIVE, Iowa — The Iowa Lottery's million-dollar luck continued this week as a Quad Cities man claimed a $1 million Mega Millions prize.
Bob Hollenback, of Milan, Ill. matched all five white balls in the Oct. 23 drawing. His Iowa Lottery ticket was one number away from winning that evening's $1.54 billion jackpot.
Hollenback, 73, said he already had a ticket for that night's huge jackpot drawing, but decided to get another when he entered Hy-Vee Gas, 3850 Elmore Ave. in Davenport.
"I realized when I went into the gas station, I already had another lottery (ticket) for the same night," he told officials Thursday as he claimed his prize at lottery headquarters in Clive. "Something just told me, go ahead and buy" another.
"It ended up being the winner — at least my winner," he added.
The ticket he purchased at Hy-Vee Gas became the eighth $1 million-winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Iowa since the game debuted here on Feb. 2, 2010.
Hollenback, a retired computer analyst and farmer with an eye for numbers, checked his tickets a few days later at home in his easy chair. He said there wasn't a big celebration when he told his wife, Jeanne.
"I just remember numbers fairly well and for some reason those numbers stuck with me," he said. "And when I looked at the ticket, I thought, ‘We won.' That's about all. No jumping up and down."
He said he's always enjoyed playing the lottery, even before his big win.
"About two or three weeks after the Illinois Lottery started, I won $1,000," he said. "That's about the first and last time" before Thursday.
Hollenback and his wife said they plan to share the winnings with family, take a trip and buy some land.
The numbers drawn in the Oct. 23 drawing were 5-28-62-65-70 and Mega Ball 5. The Megaplier was 3.
This was the Iowa Lottery's second big winner this week. A Redfield woman stepped forward Monday to claim a $343.9 million Powerball® jackpot prize.
CEO Terry Rich reminded players of another large prize that has not been claimed. A Powerball ticket purchased at Casey's, 1800 S. B Ave. in Nevada, won a $1 million prize in the April 11 drawing.
"We've had a lot of fun this week with two big winners, and now we really want to find that $1 million ticket in Nevada," Rich said. "We encourage everyone in and around Nevada to check their tickets. A life-changing amount of money may be waiting for you."
For more information about unclaimed prizes, visit ialottery.com.
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