A Baltimore County retiree is $50,000 richer after stopping at a 7-Eleven on his way home to buy his favorite Maryland Lottery games.

The popular Bonus Match 5 game was one of his choices. The great-grandfather purchased a $2 Quick-Pick ticket on October 23 for that night’s drawing and wound up the $50,000 top-prize winner. After buying the ticket, the Parkville resident went home and settled in to watch television.

“I saw the drawing and watched the numbers come across the screen,” he said. “I didn’t even realize I won until days later.”

When the lucky player finally reviewed his numbers, he saw that he matched all five for the top-prize win. The 79-year-old immediately called his wife to share the news.

“I was just hollering,” said the winner’s wife, who accompanied him to claim the prize. “This is so exciting.”

The winner waited over a week to claim his prize in order to gather the paperwork needed for the prize-claiming process. He carefully hid his ticket within a Ziploc bag and two plastic cups and put it way back in the cabinet, so no one would reach for it. During this time, sleep was elusive.

“I haven’t been able to sleep since finding out I won,” said the winner, chuckling. “I would stay up until 2 or 3 a.m.just watching TV and wake up at 7 a.m.”

The father of five grown children plans to pay some bills with his windfall and help his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as needed.

His lucky Overlea-Fullerton retailer is also a winner. The 7-Eleven located at 7631 Belair Road earned a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling a top-prize ticket in the game.