Columbus County man wins $25,000 a year for life prize

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Columbus County man says his family was the first thing on his mind after discovering his $2 Lucky for Life ticket had won him $25,000 a year for life.

“Family is the number one thing to me,” said 60-year-old David Meares. “All for one and one for all.”

Meares said he learned about his big win late at night on October 5.

“I was up all night long,” he laughed. “My adrenaline was flowing.”

After checking the numbers, Meares immediately called his family to share the news — even if it was the middle of the night.

“I called my daughters and woke them up to tell them,” he said. “I’m pretty sure we scared them because we called at 12:30 in the morning.”

Meares purchased his winning ticket through Online Play. The odds of winning the $25,000-a-year-for-life prize are 1 in 1.8 million.

“I am just tickled to death,” he said.

When Meares arrived at lottery headquarters Monday, he chose to receive his winnings as a $390,000 lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $279,826.

Meares said he plans to buy his family a set of utility terrain vehicles so they can “ride together as a family.”

Lucky for Life is one of six lottery games in North Carolina where players can buy tickets at retail locations or through Online Play.