Custodian in Columbus unwraps $100,000 prize

ATLANTA – A Columbus elementary school custodian has unwrapped a holiday surprise. Willie Woodson, 72, won a $100,000 top prize playing the Georgia Lottery instant game Golden Ticket.

"I'd been having pretty good luck with this ticket," said Woodson, a resident of Auburn, Ala., who previously has won smaller prizes.

He purchased his ticket at Money Back #0044, 1900 Ga. Highway 18 in West Point, and went home to scratch it.

"I couldn't believe it," he said.

The lucky lottery winner and his wife intend to pay off bills.

"I'm thrilled," he exclaimed.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corporation has returned more than $11.2 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs including Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia's Pre-K Program. More than 1.2 million students have received HOPE, and more than 940,000 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.