Prince George’s County farmer wins $150000 Powerball prize with decades-old numbers
Hughesville, MD — A retired firefighter and lifelong lottery player from Prince George’s County turned decades of dedication into a six-figure win after his longtime Powerball numbers landed him a $150,000 prize in the December 10 drawing.
James Cooke Jr., a farmer and regular at the Jameson-Harrison American Legion Post 238 in Hughesville, has been playing the same combination of numbers for years — each tied to significant moments from his career as a firefighter. On the night of the drawing, those numbers matched four white balls and the Powerball, normally worth $50,000. But thanks to the added $1 Power Play feature, his prize tripled to $150,000.
Cooke had purchased the ticket earlier that day at the American Legion hall following a luncheon, where he frequently volunteers. When he realized he had won, the excitement was immediate — loud enough that his wife feared something had happened to him. Moments later, he returned to the Legion hall, where news of his win quickly spread.
Though retired from public service, Cooke remains active running a farm in Prince George’s County. He plans to use his lottery winnings to remodel his kitchen and save the remainder.
The Maryland Lottery confirmed the winning ticket included both Power Play and Double Play options. Cooke was the only winner in his group of friends to consistently play the same numbers, making the win all the more personal.
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Key Points
- A retired firefighter from Prince George’s County won $150,000 in the Powerball
- He matched four white balls and the Powerball, with Power Play tripling the prize
- Cooke purchased the ticket at a Hughesville American Legion hall after a luncheon
