Powerball Winner Played Same Numbers For 30 Years
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4)- A woman from Clifton is celebrating her win of the $133 million Powerball jackpot. The drawing was on Saturday night.
Judy Finchum has played the same set of numbers for 30 years, even when she lived in Oklahoma and had to drive to Missouri to buy Powerball tickets because they weren't sold in her state. Her winning numbers are all birthdays from her family.
On Sunday morning, she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the winning Powerball numbers on her iPhone.
"I'm looking at it and it's like 17, 18, 24, 25 ... and about this time I'm totally freaking out," she said.
She actually retrieved her ticket to double check the numbers on her computer.
"It's hard to fathom," said Finchum.
She was introduced to the public as the largest Powerball winner in Colorado history on Tuesday morning in Grand Junction and awarded the big check. Numerous friends and family attended the news conference.
Finchum and her husband Mac say the money will be used to help family, friends and hurricane and forest fire victims.
The couple will take the cash option. She says at 67 and 70, they're too old to take the yearly payouts.
She says she is retired from her job selling Xerox machines and real estate effective immediately.
"I've worked all my life," she said. "And it would be nice to learn what (not working) is like, it will."
Mac says he just wants a new set of tires for his 96 Ford truck.
"I said 'Well Mac, you could buy a new truck,' he said 'I don't need a new truck, I like my truck. It's just fine,'" Finchum said.
