Great-grandpa wins pair of $250,000 lottery prizes

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What's better than winning the lottery?

Winning it twice.

Oscar Doward of Columbus, a great-grandfather, bought two identical Mega Millions tickets using a combination of family birthdays. When he matched the first five numbers in the Sept. 4 drawing, he won a pair of $250,000 prizes.

The 65-year-old father of five claimed his first prize a few weeks ago, his second prize this week.

"I claimed the first prize for my children right after it happened," said Doward, who watched the drawing on TV. "This one is mine."

The retired Army squad leader said he has no immediate plans for his winnings.

Cartersville's Henry Wilson, 55, won $250,000 playing the Georgia Lottery instant game Bass Pro Shops $250,000 Cash Adventure.  Wilson bought the ticket at BP Food Mart, 263 Cassville Road in Cartersville, after his daughter told him she had a lucky feeling.

"I didn't believe it," Wilson said. "I shared the good news with her, and she almost went crazy."

Wilson plans to buy a new home and pay off his and his daughter's bills.