Fifteen years ago today, the eight winners of what was then the nation's largest lottery jackpot stepped forward to raucous applause at a press conference in Lincoln, describing hiding out for 3½ days and feeling the uncertainty of sharing a $365 million jackpot.
When the eight co-workers of the Cook's ham plant in Lincoln won the record Powerball jackpot, they called Lincoln attorney James Hoppe.Ìý
Hoppe said he shared a couple of beers and a shot of Crown Royal with the winners, but they didn't appear to be "living it up."
Brian Rockey was at a gala at a downtown bank when he got a call about 11 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2006.
The winners were: Dung Tran, Quang Dao, Eric Zornes, David Gehle,Ìý Michael Terpstra, Robert Stewart, Alain Maboussou and Chasity Rutjens.ÌýAll eight took the cash option and, after taxes, each received about $15.5 million.
One by one the winners stepped to the podium to talk about becoming instant millionaires. The loudest reactions came when the winners said they planned to stay in Nebraska. All had worked at the steam-belching ham-processing plant from three to 22 years.
He hid the winning ticket in his underwear beneath his blue jeans until it was turned in to lottery officials the day before the press conference, during a meeting at their attorney's office.
The eight represented a melting pot of Americans suddenly transformed from punching a time clock to pondering multimillion-dollar bank accounts.
The winners of the then-record $365 million Powerball lottery jackpot were announced at a press conference at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln on Feb. 22, 2006. Back row, from left: Robert Stewart, Alain Maboussou, Dung Tran, Eric Zornes and David Gehle. Front row, from left: Chasity Rutjens, Quang Dao and Michael Terpstra.Ìý