Baton Rouge retiree receives $132,099 early birthday present

Baton Rouge resident Harry Price received an early birthday present in the form of the Louisiana Lottery’s $132,099 Feb. 17 Easy 5 jackpot. Price checked the winning numbers in the newspaper against his ticket the morning after the drawing and started his 63rd birthday off with a bang! 

“I looked at those numbers three or four times just to make sure, then called the winning numbers hotline to check again,” he recalled. After taking a few hours for the news to sink in, Price called his oldest daughter to share his good fortune.

The retired father-of-three claimed his prize at Lottery headquarters on Feb. 19. His Easy 5 quick-pick ticket matched all five numbers drawn – 07-15-29-34-37 – to secure the Feb. 17 jackpot.

Price plays Easy 5 every week, but purchased his jackpot-winning ticket at Albertson’s #1311 on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge. The store will receive a one-time bonus of $1,320.99 for making the big sale.

The winner shared his plans for the $92,469.30 he received after state and federal tax withholdings: “I want to do something for each of my children.”  He said he would like to help oldest daughter with renovations to her new house and provide his other two children with down payments to purchase homes of their own. An avid fisherman, Price also had exciting plans for the remainder of his prize. “I think I’m going to buy myself a new boat,” he added.

Lottery ticket purchasers must be at least 21 years of age. Draw-style game tickets must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing. Anyone who may have a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem should call toll free 1-877-770-7867 for help.

For security purposes, the Lottery strongly encourages players to sign the back of their tickets immediately after purchasing. More information about Easy 5 and other jackpot winners can be found on the Lottery’s website, www.louisianalottery.com/easy-5.