Lotto winners from Clute take luck in stride

By AP

AUSTIN (AP) - Andy LaSalle used to worry his wife spent too much money on Lotto Texas.

But after the Clute couple claimed the $32 million lotto jackpot drawn on Oct. 12, LaSalle's worries are over.

He and his wife, Rita, received a check for $1.6 million on Wednesday, the first of 19 installments paid to the LaSalle Family Trust that will total $32,463,891.85.

Mrs. LaSalle said with that money coming, her days of playing Lotto Texas are probably over.

"This is it," she said. "I felt guilty the other day. I went and bought five of the 'Lucky Sevens' (scratch-off games) - we didn't win but $2 - but I felt guilty."

LaSalle added, "I will tell you, we have had some discussions about buying so many Lotto tickets."

After Mrs. LaSalle discovered one of her 10 "Quick Pick" tickets in the Oct. 12 drawing hit the six winning numbers - 16, 17, 32, 36, 48 and 49 - she called LaSalle who was traveling.

He hung up the motel phone, telling his wife he needed some sleep.

When his 17-year-old son called moments later, LaSalle said the only thing on his mind was the long distance telephone bill.

"He said, 'Daddy, how does it feel to be a millionaire?' " LaSalle said. "I said, 'Son, what you better find out is who's going to pay for these phone calls.' "

LaSalle said he went to sleep without thinking about it again. He confirmed their winning numbers at a convenience store in Temple. A clerk there said the winner was from Clute, Texas. He corrected her and said it was his wife.

"She said, 'Yeah, right,' " he added.