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Detroit Retiree Hits It Big With The Lottery

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) An 82-year-old Detroit retiree hit on the right combination of family birth dates to win $163,092 in the Fantasy 5 drawing on January 15.

And it couldn't have happened to a better person, according to the owner of Fiz and Pour Market on 8 Mile Road in Redford, where the winning ticket was sold.

"He's our good customer, we're so happy for him because he always plays the same number," said Barry Kejbo, store owner. "We know him, he's a real good guy. I was real happy that someone like him won it, he's a family person, he's worked hard his whole life and he can enjoy it now."

Kejbo said the winner, who has not gone public, has already come back to show off his winnings.

"He was real happy, who wouldn't be?" Kejbo said. "He's going to travel and just enjoy it."

The lucky player, who prefers to remain anonymous, learned he was a winner while watching TV with his son-in-law. He immediately recognized a few of his numbers, but depended on the younger man's sharper vision to confirm for him that he had matched all five of the winning numbers.

He hasn't yet made plans for the money. He's mulling over giving monetary gifts to his five children. But one thing he definitely knows for sure; "Winning is good!" he said. "Now I'm going to go play some more!"

Over 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2012, the contribution to schools was a record $778.4 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed over $17 billion to education in Michigan.

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