National

Man began ‘screaming’ at his mom after NC lottery ticket won him life-changing prize

David Harvard bought the 20X The Cash ticket at the Speedway on West Fire Tower Road in Winterville, the N.C. Education Lottery said in Feb. 21 news release.
David Harvard bought the 20X The Cash ticket at the Speedway on West Fire Tower Road in Winterville, the N.C. Education Lottery said in Feb. 21 news release. Street View image from June 2023. © 2025 Google

It’s rarely a good thing to start screaming at your mom, but one North Carolina man got away with it after winning big in the state lottery.

David Harvard of Greenville bought the 20X The Cash scratch-off at the Speedway gas station on West Fire Tower Road in Winterville, and quickly discovered he’d won a jackpot, the N.C. Education Lottery said in Feb. 21 news release.

The top prize is $250,000.

“I called my mom first screaming that I won,” Harvard told lottery officials. “It’s really a blessing.”

He did not reveal how his mother reacted to the big win — or the screaming.

Harvard claimed the prize Friday, Feb. 21, at lottery headquarters in Raleigh, and it came to $179,376 after federal and state withholdings, officials said.

He intends to use the money to buy a new truck.

Odds of winning a jackpot in 20X The Cash are 1 in 1,335,942.

The game calls for matching your scratch-off numbers to the winning numbers listed on the card.

Winterville is about an 85-mile drive southeast from Raleigh.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Read Next
Read Next
Read Next

This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Man began ‘screaming’ at his mom after NC lottery ticket won him life-changing prize."

MP
Mark Price
The Charlotte Observer
Mark Price is a state reporter for The Charlotte Observer and McClatchy News outlets in North Carolina. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology. 
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW