A 60-year-old Des Moines man who works at Wal-Mart has claimed a $1 million prize from the Iowa Lottery. David Lyons discovered he was holding a winning Powerball ticket last Friday night. “I was stunned, basically,” Lyons said at a Tuesday morning press conference at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Des Moines. “I didn’t believe it and still don’t…until I get the money.”
The ticket for March 31st drawing was purchased at 3 a.m. on the previous Sunday at a Shortstop convenience store in Ankeny, next to the Wal-Mart where Lyons works overnights stocking shelves. Employees at Shortstop believed Lyons was the winner because he is one of the few people who purchases lottery games at 3 a.m. And he does so frequently.
“I probably spend anywhere from 60 to 70 bucks a week just buying Powerball and Hot Lotto,” Lyons said. The 1968 graduate of Saydel High School is a divorced father of four grown children who live in Texas, California, Iowa and Idaho. Lyons is the primary caretaker of his 93-year-old mother. After taxes, Lyons is taking home $700,000. He’s not sure what he’ll do with his new fortune.
“I haven’t really thought about it. I still (don’t) believe I really won, but I guess I have,” Lyons said. Will he continue to work overnights at Wal-Mart? “Yes, I’ll still work at Wal-Mart…for a while anyway,” Lyons said.
The winning ticket matched the first five numbers in the Powerball drawing, but missed the Powerball. Lyons paid an extra dollar to add the Power Play option which multiplied his $200,000 prize to $1 million. Lyons hasn’t told his ex-wife about his winnings and admits he’s hoping the money will bring more excitement to his social life.
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Lyons said. Lyons traveled to lottery headquarters with his sister and niece, who works at a bank and has arranged for her uncle to meet with a financial advisor.