SOUTH UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Tony Corso, 65, of Fayette County, was presented with a $1 million commemorative check Thursday at a Walmart in South Union Township after winning a top Powerball prize from the July 25 drawing.
Corso bought the winning ticket at the pharmacy while picking up a prescription for his wife following her recent heart attack.
The Powerball jackpot had reached $600 million when Corso decided to purchase $20 in tickets during his pharmacy visit.
Proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery are dedicated to funding programs for older state residents, supporting transportation, care services, prescription assistance and senior centers.
Corso retired in May after operating a small tire business. He bought $20 worth of Powerball tickets on a whim while leaving the Walmart pharmacy.
“I was there picking up my wife’s prescription. She recently suffered a heart attack,” Corso said. He noted that he typically plays the lottery only when prize amounts climb. “I like to play when the jackpot gets big,” he said.
When Corso checked his tickets the following Sunday morning, one ticket displayed a prompt instructing him to see a clerk.
“I thought, ‘That’s strange,’” Corso said. He left the ticket on his counter until Monday, when he and his wife verified the numbers online on palottery.com. “She started saying, ‘I can’t breathe!’” Corso said. “Then she said, ‘Well, I think you’re a millionaire!’”
Despite the excitement of winning, Corso emphasized that his primary focus remains on his family, noting that his wife’s birthday is Sept. 11.
“To me, her life is more important,” Corso said. He said the unexpected prize will assist with their family plans. “I didn’t really need the money. But it feels good to have it,” Corso said, adding, “This prize will help my wife fully retire.” Corso also plans to spend time with his seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Pat Browne, Pennsylvania secretary of revenue, stated that lottery sales directly support essential services across the state.
“Tony’s story reminds us that it only takes one Pennsylvania Lottery ticket to deliver a life-changing moment,” Browne said. “Each ticket purchased by players like Tony also directly support essential programs for older Pennsylvanians.”
Drew Svitko, executive director of the Pennsylvania Lottery, highlighted the role of retail sellers during the check presentation.
“It’s exciting to see players like Tony take a chance on one of our Powerball products and win big,” Svitko said. “We’re also grateful for our retailer partners like Walmart — without them we wouldn’t be able to fulfill our mission, to benefit older Pennsylvanians, every day.”
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW