
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 24, 1990                   TAG: 9007240336
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

WAITRESS, COUPLE HOLD WINNING LOTTO TICKETS

A waitress at a Richmond seafood restaurant and a Virginia Beach couple came to Virginia Lottery Department headquarters Monday to claim their share of a record $20.7 million jackpot in the state Lotto game.

Carol A. Johnson, 41, of Richmond, purchased the winning ticket Saturday night at a convenience store, just hours before the combination of 7-11-12-13-18-34 was drawn for the jackpot, the biggest since the Lotto game started earlier this year. Her share of the prize was $6.9 million.

William and Mary Forbes, both 51, also won $6.9 million. Mary Forbes purchased the winning ticket Saturday at a grocery store in Norfolk. The Forbeses said they have been playing the same number combinations since March. William Forbes is in the construction business, and Mary Forbes is a homemaker.

One other winning ticket also was purchased - at a convenience store in Virginia Beach. The winner, who also will collect $6.9 million, had not yet notified lottery officials.

Johnson and the Forbeses received their first checks for $261,928 after taxes. They will get an additional 19 annual payments of $262,453 after taxes.

Johnson, who said she was playing Lotto for the first time, said she did not learn she was a winner until she called a friend Monday morning to find out what the winning number was.

"I was emotional. I cried," she said.

Then she tried to drive to lottery headquarters to collect her winnings but her 1978 car wouldn't start.

Johnson said a new car probably will be her first major purchase. She's thinking Mercedes Benz.

by CNB