A 56-year-old Chicago Cubs fan had quite the night Thursday when he scratched his way to a $1 million lottery win while watching his hometown team get one step closer to going to the World Series.
Rick Kempke was in his southwest suburban Lockport home as the Cubs gained a 3-2 lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS when he scratched his $300,000,000 Cash Spectacular Illinois Lottery ticket and instantly won $1 million.
“I can’t believe it!” Kempke told lottery officials Friday morning. “I’m a huge Cubs fan and now that I won the lottery, I might buy a ticket for tomorrow night’s game!”
Kempke says he has lived in Lockport all of his life and is retired after working 25 years for the Environmental Protection Agency in Willowbrook.
As for what he’s going to do with the money? He already has a few things in mind.
“I really need a new car because mine is 16 years old and not very reliable,” according to Kempke.
Kempke said he also plans to buy a house with the winnings, which he opted to received in a one-time lump sum of $600,000.
Chicago Baseball
An occasional lottery player, Kempke told the Illinois Lottery that he typically buys one or two tickets each week.
His lucky ticket was bought at a Speedway gas station at 314 S. State St. in Lockport.
