A man who has played Powerball twice a week for the past 10 years, using the same number combination of birthdays and special dates every time, received his ceremonial oversized check for his one-time cash prize of $1,000,000 at Lottery Headquarters in Concord earlier today.

Mark Pare of Manchester, NH said that he heard Kelly Brown on Rock 101 talking about the winning ticket and mentioned that the store where he bought his ticket had sold the winning ticket. After grabbing the ticket that he kept in the visor of his 18-wheeler truck, he went down to the store to have them check his numbers.

Sure enough, the clerk told Mark Pare it was the winning ticket!

“I didn’t believe him,” said Pare. “As I laughed, I asked him, what did I win? A buck?!”

When Mark went home to tell his wife, Paulette, she didn’t believe him. Together the couple headed to the store so that Paulette could ask the clerk herself. The clerk’s answer was unwavering – the Queen City couple had won $1 million!

“I never thought in a million years that I would win a million dollars,” Pare said in disbelief.

Officials from the New Hampshire Lottery presented a ceremonial check of $1,000,000 to Mark Pare earlier today.  He will receive his official prize of $750,000 (after taxes) within a few days. 

N&K Market in Manchester will receive a $10,000 retailer incentive check for selling the winning ticket. 

“We’re very excited for Mark and Paulette,” said Debra Douglas, Chairman of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. “Mark’s been a loyal lottery player and longtime player of Powerball, so presenting the check to him today was such a great feeling.” 
 
Mark, a truck driver for MBI and resident of Manchester, has been married to Paulette, for 16 years.

Although New Hampshire first joined the Powerball game back in September 1995 as a $1 game, Powerball® was reintroduced as a $2 game in January. Powerball® is played in 44 states and drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday nights at 11 p.m. EST.