All in Day’s Work for Jackpot’s Big Winners

Harry Hunter of Garden Grove and George MacKelvey of Costa Mesa reported to work Thursday. On time, as usual.

Both men went about their work quickly and efficiently, as usual, said their bosses in the Orange County General Services Agency.

But what was unusual on Thursday, the bosses noted, was that Hunter and MacKelvey were newly rich. The two had shared in the Wednesday night jackpot of the California Lottery, jointly winning $1.6 million.

The winning numbers were 4, 6, 7, 19, 26 and 49. Their selection of all six brought them that bonanza. A resident of Fremont, who hasn’t come forward yet, also had six correct numbers and won the other $1.6 million, lottery officials said.

But Hunter and MacKelvey figuratively had whipped cream on their cake.

In addition to the jackpot of six correct numbers, the two men also had five other winning tickets. They had purchased five separate tickets that each had five of the six winning numbers. Each of those tickets is worth $2,587. The total $12,935 will be awarded to them immediately, lottery fficials said, and they’ll get the jackpot money in yearly installments of $33,200 each for the next 20 years. That amount is the net after taxes have been withdrawn.

Despite the six lucky tickets, “they came to work right on time, and I’m told they even took care of phone calls they had to make for the county before they even called the lottery people about winning,” said Bob Love, a General Services Agency official.

Hunter could not be reached for comment Thursday, but MacKelvey said that both men plan to keep working. “We’ve been sort of calm about it,” said MacKelvey. Asked what he plans to do with his money, MacKelvey said, “Fix my car. Maybe a couple of ski trips.”

Hunter and MacKelvey are both 56 and longtime friends. Each has worked for county government for more than 25 years. Both men are unmarried, and one of their hobbies has been the California Lottery weekly lotto games, MacKelvey said. “Harry and I pick numbers every week,” said MacKelvey, adding that each spends about $50 a week on their total lotto selections.

GSA officials said that Hunter is the locksmith for all county-owned buildings, including the jail, while MacKelvey is in charge of landscaping for all county buildings.

Stan Davidson, chief of facilities operation for GSA, said Hunter and MacKelvey handled their financial windfall with style and grace at work all day Thursday.

“They were calm and cool,” said Davidson. “Still, I could see that underneath, they were feeling that emotion about winning.”