Scottsdale Retiree Claims $1.7 Million The Pick Jackpot

Winner says wife didnt believe him at first, told him to stop kidding around Scottsdale retiree Lloyd Kaufman who says the only thing hes ever won was a turkey about 20 years ago has reason to re-think his luck after winning $1.7 million from Saturdays (July 4) The Pick drawing. On Monday, July 6, the Arizona Lottery presented Kaufman a check for his winnings. Kaufman purchased his winning ticket at the Safeway at 7920 E. Chaparral Road in Scottsdale. The winning numbers were 9, 12, 14, 16, 19 and 29. It was the first time that the Scottsdale resident chose those particular numbers; three numbers (12, 14 and 16) were chosen to honor a recently departed friend who always chose those numbers playing Keno, and the remaining numbers (9, 19 and 29) were his wifes Keno numbers. Kaufman, who has been married to his wife for 62 years, says he almost fainted when he opened the Sunday paper only to find his own The Pick numbers listed as the winners. Im the type of guy you think of as cool, calm, and collected, he said. Not this time. The Detroit transplant tried to reassure his wife that they really won, and later admitted that she still didnt believe him when they went to bed Sunday night. When asked of his plans for the winnings, Kaufman said he may fix up the bathrooms in his Scottsdale home but no plans to pick up and move. When people come in and they win the big one, thats particularly exciting, said Jeff Hatch-Miller, executive director of the Arizona Lottery, as he handed Kaufman his check. We love our winners here. Kaufman retorted, And I love to be a winner! Youve made my wife and I very happy. Drawings for The Pick are broadcast Wednesday and Saturday during the 10 p.m. news on Channel 15 (ABC) in Phoenix, Channel 13 (CBS) in Tucson, and Univision in Spanish. Players can check their numbers by logging on to arizonalottery.com or by calling the winning numbers hotlines at 480-829-PICK in Phoenix and 1-800-499-3798 in all other Arizona areas. You must be at least 21 to purchase or redeem tickets. The Arizona Lottery reminds everyone to please play responsibly.