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$189 Million Powerball Jackpot Claimed in Florida
Dr. William A. Steele, an Orlando physician, claimed the $189 million Powerball
jackpot from the October 3rd drawing. Steele carried the winning Powerball
ticket around in his wallet for days before having a friend check the numbers.
Dr. Steele elected to take the lump-sum payment of $101 million.
Arriving at the Tallahassee lottery office with his wife and a friend, Steele
said when claiming the prize, “we’re in shock.” Dr. Steele said that much of the
winnings would go to charity. He plans to continue his practice "if the public
will let me."
Steele said he purchased his ticket at a Chevron station at Sand Lake and Turkey
Lake roads "that I go to frequently" in time for the record Oct. 3
drawing. Steele said he was preparing to go to a charity event at Universal
Studios, the home of the Powerball drawing, a week after the win when he asked a
friend to go to the Florida Lottery web site and check the numbers from the
ticket he had in his pocket. Dr. Steele read the numbers to his friend and they
were both in disbelief at first.
At 4 a.m. on a Sunday morning, Steele woke his wife and asked
her if she loved him. Then he told her about the ticket and his wife told him
to “go back to sleep.” Steele said he will set up a foundation and plans to
support several charities in the near future.
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