Henderson man claims $1 million Mega Millions prize on his birthday

David Whitmore of Henderson said he plans to use his winnings from the Nov. 13 drawing to pay off his mortgage, pay his bills and maybe take a cruise.

"This evening I'm going to a concert with my kids," Whitmore said Thursday. "I haven't told them yet, so I may pick them up in a limo as a surprise."

Whitmore purchased the winning ticket at the 39 Pit Stop on N.C. Highway 29 in Henderson. Whitmore's winnings are worth $680,000 after taxes. The odds of winning the $1 million prize are one in 3.9 million.

Whitmore's win was the second $1 million prize from North Carolina in the past three drawings. The first winning ticket was from the Nov. 6 drawing, and the winner, Queenester Newman from Sampson County, claimed her prize on Tuesday.