By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

INDEPENDENCE TWP. — Last month, Bruce Quigley was unsuccessful in his bid to become an Independence Township trustee.
His luck changed after he won $25,000 a year for life playing the Michigan Lottery’s Lucky For Life game on Thanksgiving.
The 54-year-old Quigley won the enormous prize when his Lucky For Life ticket matched the five white balls drawn on Nov. 23: 07-25-33-43-44. He bought his winning ticket online at MichiganLottery.com.
“I have a Lucky for Life online subscription so that I never miss a draw,” said Quigley. “The morning after the drawing, I checked my email while me and my wife were drinking coffee and I saw an email from the Lottery that I had never seen before.
“I logged in to my Lottery account and saw $390,000 pending, but I wasn’t sure how I had won it, so I thought it was some sort of joke. I told my wife,‘I think we may have won the Lottery, but I’m not sure.’ After looking around on the website, I realized I had won $25,000 a year for life on Lucky for Life and that’s when I said to my wife,‘We really did win the Lottery!’ It was the best Thanksgiving ever.”
Quigley visited Lottery headquarters recently to claim his prize. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000, rather than annuity payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater. He plans to save his winnings for retirement.
“Winning this prize provides a nice financial cushion for retirement, and I feel very grateful to have won,” said Quigley.
For just $2 per play, Lucky For Life gives Lottery players a chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to a lifetime of cash. To win the game’s top prize of $1,000 a day for life, players must match all five winning numbers ranging from 1 to 48, plus one Lucky Ball ranging from 1 to 18. Players who match all five winning numbers, but not the Lucky Ball, will win $25,000 a year for life.
Drawings take place at 10:38 p.m. seven days a week.
Tickets can be purchased at Lottery retailers across the state and also online at MichiganLottery.com.

PHOTO: Independence Township resident Bruce Quigley is all smiles holding the $25,000 a year for life check. Photo: Michigan Lottery