$1 million ticket sold on Broad Street in Chattanooga

Friday, January 1, 1904

A Chattanooga man has stepped forward and claimed the $1 million prize he won last week.

Michael McBrayer claimed his $1 million prize Friday, but did not want his photo taken or a news release made about his win, according to Kym Gerlock, director of media relations at the Tennessee Education Lottery Corp.

McBrayer's win will affect others in Chattanooga. Because McBrayer won $1 million or more in a draw-style game, Gerlock said, the retailer who sold him the ticket also will receive a prize.

"We're probably going to put a little sign up that says '$1 million ticket sold here' or something," said Sulman Javid, manager of the Raceway at 2528 Broad St., which sold the winning ticket last Wednesday.

Gerlock said the Tennessee Lottery provides signs and banners for retailers, not only to help promote the lottery but also to highlight retailers who have sold winning tickets.

"I think players see that and they think, 'Oh this is a lucky store,' or 'That could be me,'" Gerlock said.

Javid said the Raceway already has had a slight uptick in sales, with some customers purchasing more than one ticket after they learned the store sold the winning $1 million ticket. Employees at the store are excited to have sold the winning ticket and are asking that McBrayer come down to the store so they can congratulate him.

"What we see on a day-to-day basis -- it's a lot of people without hope," Javid said. "When Powerball went up really high earlier in the year, we had someone buy about $500 in tickets. He won about $50 or $60, but that was when I was like 'Wow, that's a waste of money.' But now, we have a winner -- it feels good. I hope that it gives people hope."

Contact staff writer Rachel Bunn at rbunn@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.