U.S. Army Reserve Veteran Uses Family Birthday Numbers to Win $150K Powerball Prize

EAST HAVEN, CT — The family that stays together, wins together. Well, maybe not always, but family certainly came in handy when East Haven’s E. Charles Ellis Jr. was selecting his winning Powerball numbers.

Ellis Jr.’s winning numbers are all family member’s birthdays. With five brothers and sisters, Ellis Jr. had to find the right combination; and indeed he did.

Ellis Jr., a U.S. Army Reserve Veteran, took his sister Erin-Marie Boemmels with him to claim their $150,600 prize at the Rocky Hill headquarters.

“We’re a tight family—we take care of each other,” Boemmels said.

The winning numbers drawn on Aug. 3 were — 9 – 11 – 27 – 66 – 67 – Powerball: 2 – Power Play: 3. Ellis Jr. matched four numbers and the Powerball number while adding the Power Play to win $150,000.

For good measure, the siblings won another $600 by matching the same numbers on two boards with the Power Play.

“He texted me,’” Boemmels told Lottery officials. “I said ‘Are you kidding me? You’re messing with me!’” Boemmels explained. “He told me ‘Tuesday morning, were going down to the Lottery.’”

Ellis Jr. and Boemmels plan to pay some bills but most of the money will go toward helping loved ones at their family ranch in North Carolina.

“We’re supposed to help and build each other up,” Boemmels said. “He’s always been there for me—for everyone.”

Ellis Jr. is a proud 24-year Army Reserve retired veteran who travels back and forth between North Carolina and Connecticut to see relatives.

Ellis Jr.’s winning ticket was sold at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9460 located on 100 Veterans Boulevard in Stratford.

Contributed photo