Three Powerball Winners Come Forward

Aug. 27, 2001 — -- A laid-off telecommunications worker from Ashland, Ky., and a medical records clerk in Minneapolis came forward today to claim their shares of Saturday's $295 million Powerball jackpot.

David Edwards stepped up as the first of four Powerball ticket holders who matched all six numbers for Saturday's $294.8 million jackpot.

"I was just inundated. I didn't know how to feel. I was in shock at the time. Really happy," he said of the moment late Saturday night when he realized he had struck it rich.

Edwards was recently laid off from his job in the telecommunications field, and has been needing money for back surgery.

"This is a poor man's dream," he said.

This afternoon, Minnesota lottery officials held a news conference with Sheryel Hanuman, the second lucky Powerball player.

At a new conference in New Hampshire this afternoon, lawyer Terrence Garmey said that his clients, Pat and Irwin Wales, had also won.

The remaining winner has yet to be identified. That ticket was purchased in Delaware.

Edwards said he lost his health insurance when he was laid off, and had only three more unemployment checks left.

"I didn't have no money to get any insurance, I didn't really have enough money to pay off all my bills," he said today on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America. "I was just barely making it."

Appearing happy and exhausted, Edwards attended a news conference today to receive an oversized check for $41.4 million. He opted for a single lump-sum payment instead of $73 million paid over 25 years.

"I think I can handle my own money, with the help of advisers," the 46-year-old divorced father told Good Morning America. Edwards has an 11-year-old daughter.

He admitted he had served prison time for robbery when he was younger, but said the lottery money would be a chance for him to do good.

He bought the lucky ticket at Clark's Pump N Shop in Ashland, saying he just felt like giving the game a shot.