$189 Million Powerball Jackpot Claimed in Florida

Monday, October 19, 2009 posted 05:52 PM EDT

Dr. William A. Steele, an Orlando physician, claimed the $189 million Powerball jackpot from the October 3rd drawing. Steele carried the winning Powerball ticket around in his wallet for days before having a friend check the numbers. Dr. Steele elected to take the lump-sum payment of $101 million.

Arriving at the Tallahassee lottery office with his wife and a friend, Steele said when claiming the prize, “we’re in shock.” Dr. Steele said that much of the winnings would go to charity. He plans to continue his practice "if the public will let me."

Steele said he purchased his ticket at a Chevron station at Sand Lake and Turkey Lake roads "that I go to frequently" in time for the record Oct. 3 drawing. Steele said he was preparing to go to a charity event at Universal Studios, the home of the Powerball drawing, a week after the win when he asked a friend to go to the Florida Lottery web site and check the numbers from the ticket he had in his pocket. Dr. Steele read the numbers to his friend and they were both in disbelief at first.

At 4 a.m. on a Sunday morning, Steele woke his wife and asked her if she loved him. Then he told her about the ticket and his wife told him to “go back to sleep.” Steele said he will set up a foundation and plans to support several charities in the near future.

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