Marine Launching Photography Business with $10K Prize

A soon-to-be retired U.S. Marine plans to launch a photography career after winning a $10,000 prize on the Maryland Lottery’s Poker Showdown scratch-off.

The Suitland resident enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 30, and because he was much older than the other privates at his first duty station, he quickly ended up with the nickname “Unkl Mike.”

Two decades later, Unkl Mike is only months away from retiring from the service and moving on to pursue his interest in photography. In fact, when he found his lucky scratch-off, he was on his way to look at new lenses for his camera.

He stopped for gas and a few scratch-offs at Hampton Mall Exxon, 8901 Central Ave. in Capitol Heights. The avid scratch-off player enjoys crossword and bingo games, and lately began playing the baseball-themed Home Run Riches game.

On the day he found his fortune, he decided to go another route and selected a $10 Poker Showdown instant ticket.

“I had never won anything on that ticket before,” he told lottery officials. His luck was about to change. “As I was pumping gas, I scratched it, and I saw $10,000 and I just shut down,” he said.

The prize money comes at a perfect time, allowing the Prince George’s County resident to launch his photography business. The 50-year-old plans to specialize in events, weddings, portraits and pets.

“I texted a friend and said I just got a small-business grant from the Maryland Lottery,” he said.

»PHOTO: A soon-to-be retired U.S. Marine from Suitland known as “Unkle Mike” celebrated a $10,000 win on the Poker Showdown scratch-off, photo from Maryland Lottery