$1M Powerball Winner is Broome County's First Lottery Millionaire of 2012

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (08/16/2012)(readMedia)-- Robert Howard, a long time Lotto player, decided to try something different when he purchased a Powerball Quick Pick ticket on July 14. That adjustment to his normal routine brought new meaning to the phrase "change is good." Howard, 44, won the $1,000,000 second prize from the Powerball drawing held later that same day.

Howard learned he was a million dollars richer when he returned to the Hess Mart on Harry L Drive in Johnson City the day after the drawing. "The clerk scanned the ticket and told me I won a million," he said. "I didn't believe it at first." Howard claimed his winning ticket at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Syracuse on July 20.

The July 14 Powerball winning numbers were 04 16 32 37 46 and the Powerball 13. Howard matched the first five numbers, winning him the Powerball second prize.

The Powerball second prize is paid as a single, lump sum payment. Howard will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.

Howard said he plays the Lottery because of "the dollar and a dream thing." He plans to put some of his winnings toward the house he is building and some toward his daughter's education.

Howard is Broome County's first ever Powerball millionaire. Other recent Broome County Lottery millionaires include George Metritikas, who won $2,000,000 on the $500M Extravaganza scratch off game in 2011.

The New York Lottery contributed $42,182,249.63 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Broome County during fiscal year 2011-12.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing nearly $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's contribution represents nearly 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district's size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.