$4.1-Million ‘Big Spin’ Jackpot Is Downey Woman’s Birthday Gift

A great-grandmother from Downey celebrated her 65th birthday Saturday by winning $4.175 million in the California Lottery’s “Big Spin.”

“Right now I don’t know whether I’m on foot or on horseback,” Louise Watson said in a telephone interview moments after she won. “I’m so excited, it hasn’t sunk in.”

A employee in the dietary department of Rio Hondo Hospital, Watson--who has three children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren--said she plans to use the money to help her family.

A regular lottery player, she said she purchased the tickets qualifying her for the Big Spin at a Stop ‘n’ Go Market in Downey. “There are so many thousands and thousands (competing),” she said, “that I never dreamed I would be picked.”

According to lottery spokesman John Schade, Watson--who is the first grand prize winner since Jan. 11--will receive $167,000 annually after taxes for the next 20 years. The first check, he said, should arrive in about a week.