Vietnam Veteran from Crownsville Wins $10K in Lottery Game

CROWNSVILLE, MD — A retired U.S. Army chief warrant officer reported to Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore with a $10,000 winning scratch-off in hand and a new mission. The scratch-off strategist planned to buy more Lottery games on his way home to seek his next big prize.

Francis Steed of Crownsville is one of two players who found $10,000 top-prize winning tickets in the 10x Cash scratch-off game that debuted July 25.

The great-grandfather of two bought the $10,000 winning 10x Cash scratch-off at Bill’s Liquors at 1688 Annapolis Road in Odenton. The married father of two and grandfather of one is a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran with 23 years of Army service. He enjoys playing $20 games, such as his current favorite – Diamond Spectacular – because it gave him two $500 wins in one week.

His wife, who actually scratched off the winning ticket, prefers bingo-style games. She’s won $500 several times, too. “Every so often, I get her the Ravens or the 10x Cash scratch-off,” Francis told Maryland Lottery officials, explaining that his wife no longer drives, so he shops for their games.

“She started scraping this ticket and she was shaking,” said the 75-year-old. “She said ‘Is there something wrong with this ticket? It has all the same numbers.’” A $1,000 prize appeared on every row.

The popular $10 game still has 93 top prizes remaining, along with thousands of prizes ranging from $10 to $1,000.

»Photo: Francis Steed of Crownsville was a top-prize winner on the 10x Cash scratch-off. Photo from Maryland Lottery