WORKINGS No. 4 Mine Employee Hits $1.2 Million Plus Jackpot

FEBRUARY 2005
No. 4 Mine Employee
Hits $1.2 Million
Plus Jackpot
Ever dreamed about becoming a millionaire? It's no dream for William Ducker, a Longwall Helper at No. 4 Mine. "Duck," as he is known by his friends, has worked for JWR 28 years and has no intentions of quitting. "I have two kids in college and two more getting ready to go," Duck says.
     Duck won $1,269,372 on a Megabucks progressive slot machine at the Golden Moon Hotel and Casino in Philadelphia, Mississippi on January 31. Duck says he usually goes to the casinos two or three times a month. "I had been at the casino the night before and lost," Duck recalls. "I usually play slot machines with a 'wild' something on it. I saw the new Megabucks slot and thought I would try it. I put in a $20 bill and in less than 10 minutes I hit the jackpot."
     When asked how it feels to win over a million bucks, Duck replied, "I don't feel any different than before. When I won at the casino they kept asking me if I was excited. They thought I should be jumping up and down and they couldn't believe I was so calm. I told them I was too cool to jump up and down."
     Duck had a six hour wait for a casino employee to come from Florida to verify his machine was an actual winner. "They put me up for the night and gave me some food, nothing special," said Duck. The casino has 60 days to figure a lump sum payout or to pay $66,000 a year for 20 years. "I haven't seen any money yet so don't ask me for a loan," Duck says smiling.