Courtesy Photo/Image Leatherman and his winnings.

A Wallace man is starting to come to grips with the reality of winning $1 million in the lottery.

FREE Mobile Banking NOW AVAILABLE!

“I’m still getting used to the idea,” he said Tuesday. “First, I’m going to pay off the family’s debts -- mine, my brother’s and father’s -- and then I will look at remodeling the house.”

Scott Leatherman picked the winning Nebraska lottery ticket June 20, coupled with a power play multiplier. He bought the ticket at Ozzie’s convenience store at the Sutherland I-80 interchange.

It was a normal day, he said. He buys nine lottery tickets each Saturday and Wednesday – quick picks. The 18 tickets cost him $36 a week.

“The numbers are computer generated,” he said. “I’ve done some research and 75 percent of the winners seem to come off quick picks. And, I buy a random for the power ball and the “power play yes”, because the payoff is better.”

It was a good choice for the 49-year-old Leatherman. Without the extra “pluses” he would have won $200,000.

As it is, he will soon get a check for $700,000. Federal (25%) and state (5%) taxes are taken out of his winnings before the check is sent.

Meanwhile, Leatherman continues to work at Scoular Grain in Grainton. He will leave that job July 10 but hasn’t made any life changing plans.

“I plan to stay in the area,” he said. “My mother’s grave is at the cemetery and my father still lives here. There is no reason to go anywhere else. This part of the country grows on you. Everyone is really friendly.”

Leatherman is a hydraulics technician by trade and he moved to Wallace in March 2008 because his mother was gravely ill. She died and he stayed with his father.

He continued to play the lottery, as he had for several years, buying tickets at Ozzie’s (formerly Parr’s) or at a North Platte gas station at Jeffers and Leota.

The lottery winners were announced June 21. Leatherman looked up the results. He couldn’t believe it.

“I was really blown away,” he said. “I said a few unrepeatable words in my excitement. I couldn’t sleep that night.”

Leatherman signed the ticket, wrapped it in plastic and put it in an envelope. The next day he drove to Lincoln to claim the prize. He didn’t get sleepy until the return trip.

“People came out of the woodwork,” he said. “They started knocking on the door the day after, before I went to work. They wanted to talk about it, wanted to borrow some. But mostly, everyone has been very congratulatory, they tell me it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, which is nice of them.”

Several of Leatherman’s friends have asked for an autographed photo.

“It gives everyone hope,” he said. “I’m still getting used to the idea. I can’t wait to be debt free and I have some dental stuff to take care of. I’ve never really had a lot of money. I’ve had a couple good years, but never had all that much.”

“It’s starting to sink in,” he said. “It’s going to be handled by a tax accountant that I’ve had for several years now. I’m real glad I’ve got him.”

Leatherman’s parents Alta and Samuel moved to Wallace in 1996, after Samuel retired from Phillips Petroleum, just because they liked the place.

“They had been in El Paso," Scott said. "Mom always wanted to enjoy all four seasons when they retired. They were traveling through on the way to visit friends in Colorado. They saw an ad for a house for sale, and Mom fell in love with it.”