"ARE YOU SITTING DOWN? YOU JUST WON $1 MILLION!"
IT Software Worker from Kirkland is Second Raffle Winner
OLYMPIA — Ralph Arnett, an IT worker from Kirkland, picked up the phone on Friday afternoon to call Washington’s Lottery’s customer service line, after hearing that a winning Million Dollar Raffle ticket was sold at the same Kirkland Shell station he purchased a ticket.
Arnett told the Lottery office that he purchased his ticket from Sami's Shell located at 10801 68th Street in Kirkland, where one of the top million-dollar prizes was sold. He hoped he might be that store's winner. After a brief pause, the Lottery representative asked Arnett if he was sitting down.
"Congratulations, Mr. Arnett, you've won $1 million!" they said. Shock swept over his body and he could only hear his quick heart beat.
"My heart was racing so fast I thought it would explode," Arnett laughed. "My heart knew, but my mind couldn't believe it."
Arnett immediately called his two brothers to share the news. His older brother, Randy, congratulated him. His younger brother, John, laughed and said he did not believe him. Arnett called John back an hour later and told him he was joking about winning.
"Seeing has always been believing with John," Arnett said. "Randy and I decided we'd have to prove that I won, so we picked him up on our way to claim the prize from the Lottery office."
When they walked into the Everett Lottery office to claim the million dollar Raffle prize, John was shocked.
"I am so happy for my brother," John Arnett said. "I just didn't believe him. It's so hard to believe that someone as close to you as your brother could win the Lottery, but I'm really glad he did."
After celebrating with his two brothers, Arnett says he plans to save most of the money and take the time to dream about how he'd like to spend his winnings.
"I've always wanted to buy a sailboat and cruise down to Australia," Arnett says. "I'm at an age where I can really appreciate winning. I just want to make sure I think about what to do with the money enough, that the appreciation shines through."
Arnett won one of the three, top Million Dollar Raffle prizes when he matched the winning numbers 061103. One winning ticket number 103710 has yet to be claimed. That ticket was sold at Tracyton Market, 5010 May Street NW in Bremerton.
In Photograph (left to right): John Arnett, Ralph Arnett, Randy Arnett
WASHINGTON’S LOTTERY: Established in 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated over $2.4 billion to important state programs, including education construction, stadium debt reduction, economic development and problem gambling prevention and treatment. In FY ’07, Washington’s Lottery contributed $101 million to education in Washington State. Washington’s Lottery offers consumers several types of games: Mega Millions, Lotto, Hit 5, The Daily Game, Daily Keno, and Scratch