Grayslake man's quick strike nets $1 million
Every week or so, DeCount Bell Sr. stops at the Car Spa Shell in Libertyville for a car wash and lottery tickets.
On a Wednesday about two weeks ago, on a day like any other, the retired painting contractor decided to shake up the routine and opted to play the $4,000,000 Gold Bullion game, which costs $20 a ticket.
Rather than his usual, relatively modest weekly investment, the Grayslake resident went all in, dropping $600 for an entire book of 30 tickets. The move paid off. Big.
"I love the new games when they first come out. That's the time to strike," he said Thursday just before he and his wife, Brenda, posed at the scene of the sale with a ceremonial oversize check for $1 million presented by Illinois Lottery officials.
As winners of the first $1 million awarded for that particular game, the Bells were jovial and appeared content.
"We were happy before this, too," said Brenda, who stops at Bill Seitz' car wash on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on her way home from work as an executive assistant at Abbott.
The couple has won small amounts from time to time but nothing substantial. That's why Brenda didn't immediately absorb what DeCount said when he called her at work that afternoon - three days before her birthday. He didn't play the instant tickets at the car wash but scratched off the little ovals as soon as he got home.
"Do not play with me at work. I'm too busy,'" she told him in disbelief. "I just kind of shut it off and said, 'I'll see when I get home.' I didn't want anything to mess up my work day."
Once home, she put down her purse, took off her shoes and checked the ticket.
"It's still sinking in," she said.
The couple, who told no one of their bounty, decided to take a $600,000 lump sum payout. They'll take a Chi-lanta Caribbean cruise with friends in September but otherwise have no big purchases or other flights of fancy planned.
"It is securing our retirement. We're going to save it," DeCount said. "We're not the type to be broke in a week or two," he later added.
"It's less stress because our retirement is somewhat secured," Brenda said. "We're just going to do what we want to do." She plans to continue working.
Seitz said he has sold a $1,000 winning ticket as well as several $500 and $100 tickets. His cut of Bell's prize is 1 percent or $10,000. He plans to reinvest the money and spread some around but hopes news of the big win sparks business.
"Where can you get the best car wash in Lake County and win a million bucks?" he joked.
The Bells, both 57, have been married 13 years and have seven grown children between them.
"They'll see a little of the trickle down," DeCount said. "The grand kids will probably see more."
They say their routines won't change.
"We're not going to stop coming here," Brenda said.