Hollister couple wins $650K from scratch-off lottery game

Hollister’s Russ and Becky Williams certainly were not expecting much when they purchased a single, $1 “Lucky for Life” scratch-off ticket a few weeks ago.
The married couple purchased the ticket Feb. 5 from Hollister Liquors on 310 First St. Russ Williams this week recalled his initial reaction in an interview with the Free Lance.
“Far out!” was his reaction when he had realized they won, he said.
The couple will receive $500 a week for the next 25 years – which amounts to about $650,000, according to a spokeswoman for the California Lottery.
The couple is retired and has lived in Hollister for 35 to 40 years, they said.
“We’re going to use it (the money) for security for the next 25 years,” Williams said.
He said he thinks it will make things just “a little more comfortable.” They might use the money for other purposes, he said.
“Pay some bills. Get a truck down the line,” he said.
Kevin Tieu, the owner of Hollister Liquors, said it was a “shock” when he heard the two had won.
He said the store has been around for 50 years and he has owned it for two years.
“We’ve never had a big winner,” he said. “I sell a lot of tickets here.”
He said that the win is good advertising for the store.
“It shows we do have winners in Hollister,” he said.