Lottery winner comes forward
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[RED BUD - Since being announced three weeks ago that one of the Mega Millions winning tickets was purchased in Red Bud, IL, the million dollar question everyone across the nation was wanting to know was who won That question was finally answered this morning at a press conference at the Red Bud Village hall.
In front of over 50 media outlets, Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones announced Red Bud residents Merle and Patricia Butler as the sole winner s in Illinois.
The couple, who were able to their win a secret for nearly three weeks, came forward at the press conference this morning to claim their share of the $656 million Mega Millions grand prize. Their $218,666,667 share is the largest prize in Illinois history.
?Hollywood screenwriters couldn?t have scripted a better story,? said Lottery Supt. Michael Jones. ?A friendly, beautiful town in Illinois; the largest lottery jackpot ever; won by wonderful people. I offer my hearty congratulations to the Butlers, and thank them for participating in the Illinois Lottery, which has helped raise more than $31.5 million in money for Illinois schools and critical capital projects,? said Jones. ?We were here last week to present a bonus check to the owners and employees of Moto Mart, and we are so happy to be here today to present a check for $218.6 million to the Butlers.
Merle Butler was home watching the evening TV news on March 30, when the winning numbers for the world?s largest jackpot were broadcast. He jotted the numbers down on a nearby envelope. He then removed his $3 Mega Millions Quick Pick ticket from ticket from his nightstand and checked it against the numbers jotted down. After reviewing the numbers a couple of times, he calmly and quietly said ?we won? to his wife. About ten minutes went by before Merle realized his life would never be the same again.
?Are you sure?? was Patricia?s immediate response. ?Yes, I think so,? he replied. Then the adrenaline hit. The couple literally stayed up all night confirming their numbers.
Patricia Butler found herself nervously laughing much of the evening/early morning, not because she thought anything was funny, but rather, because of a lack of sleep combined with the excitement and anxiety of winning a record-setting jackpot.
The couple prepared themselves breakfast early Saturday morning. After breakfast the couple drove to their local bank at 9:00 a.m. and secured the ticket inside a lockbox they rent at First Bank of Red Bud. One of the long-time bank employees, who had already heard the news that Red Bud sold a big winner, jokingly asked the Butlers if they were there to deposit their winning ticket. ?That?s right,? said Merle, jokingly, ?we?ve got the winner.?
Early the following week, the Butlers contacted a St. Louis attorney who then contacted one of the major banks in St. Louis, and arranged for the Butlers to have their one-time Lottery payment of $157,882,070 (less withholding) directly deposited in the bank. The payment will be completed in 2 to 3 weeks. The prize was claimed in Merle?s name for simplicity?s sake. The couple opted for a one-time payment of $157.8 million, rather than $218.6 pain in 26 annual installments of $8.4 each. The actual one-time payment the Butlers will receiv (after 25 percent federal and 5 percent state withholding) is $110,517,449 ? likely the largest payment ever made to an individual by the State of Illinois.
Two Lottery employees from Springfield drove to St. Louis on lucky Friday, April 13 to meet with the Butlers, their attorney, and bank officials at Northern Trust Bank in St. Louis. After completing the necessary paperwork, and signing multiple receipts, the Lottery employees drove the Butlers winning ticket back to Springfield and began finalizing plans for today?s big announcement.
?We are just everyday people who have worked hard all our life, who love our family and our city, pay our taxes and try in and keep up with all the work that?s involved in owning and maintaining a house ,? said Merle Butler. ?We just happened to hit it big in the lottery. We enjoy spending time with our family and friends, and ? believe it or not- don?t anticipate our day to day lives changing all that much because of the win. ?
?It really hasn?t sunk in yet,? said Patricia Butler. ?Winning this amount of money is a major responsibility, one we take seriously and will figure out step-by-step as we go along. I?m sure we will be using part of the winnings to do some real good; we just don?t know yet how that might manifest itself.?
Merle purchased his $3 Quick Pick ticket on Wednesday, March 28 at the Red Bud Moto Mart.? Located at 900 S.Main St. The Illinois-based convenience store chain, which operates 75 convenience stores in six states, received $500,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Moto Mart gave $50,000 of its Lottery bonus to the employees who work in the Red Bud Store.
Merle is an occasional Lottery player, who buys a few Quick Pick tickets when the Mega Millions jackpot reaches these levels. Patricia , on the other hand has never purchased a Lottery ticket in her life, but says she may now begin purchasing tickets on occasion.
Merle worked for General American Life Insurance in St. Louis for 25 years, retiring about eight years ago. Patricia worked for several companies during her professional career, retiring from Edward Jones IT department nearly five years ago. Merle and Patricia, married 41 years, will safely invest the money and financially assist their two children and grandchildren, perhaps buy a new car and intend to take in a few St. Louis Cardinals games.
Merle, who has lived in red Bud nearly all his life, said part of the reason he waited nearly three weeks to claim the prize was to give red Bud the chance to garner some positive publicity. He more than succeeded in that goal. Now, he says his goal is for life to regain its normal pace and small-town rythem.
?Red Bud is the kind of town you think of when you see the movie, ?It?s a Wonderful Life,? said Red Bud Mayor Tim Lowry. ?We?re thrilled for the Butlers, whom I?ve known since I was small boy.?
The March 30 Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million resulted in three grand prize tickets. The other two winning tickets, already claimed, were sold in Maryland and Kansas. The largest Illinois prize dates back to May 9, 2000, when the Kainz family of Lake County won $183 million in the big game, the precursor to Mega Millions.