White Plains Lotto Winner Presented with Prize Check

With tears in her eyes—Rose Dilworth recapped the night that her husband James Dilworth, a mechanic at New Rochelle Nissan, told her they were lottery winners.

"I was coming home from work around 11p.m. He was waiting on the front porch for me, and said 'Honey, our dreams came true,’” she recalled—at the JKSG CITGO Station, at 124 So. Lexington Ave., where her husband bought his winning ticket.

That dream will come in the form of a comfy new home for the White Plains couple, who rent in the city where they have lived for more than 30 years.

"That's [buying a home] exactly what I plan to do," said James Dilworth.

The White Plains CITGO station was filled with cameras, and glamorized with the New York Lottery backdrop Tuesday—when the Jamaican-born city resident was presented an oversized check for $1 million. 

Remaining completely humbled by the experience, the 62-year-old held his check with his wife, as cameras flashed and questions were asked. 

“I play almost every day," he said, explaining that he eventually expected to win something.

With a bright smile on his face, Dharminder Singh, 47, the owner of the CITGO station, posed for a picture with the winning couple and New York Lottery personality Gretchen Dizer, who presented the check.

James Dilworth bought his "Match & Win" scratch off ticket on June 15, and claimed his prize on June 27 at the lottery's Customer Service Center on Beaver Street in Manhattan. 

He will receive the $1 million prize, in the form $50,000 a year for 20 years.

"I'll make sure that the kids and grandkids are taken care of," said the father of four, who has six grandchildren.

However, as of today, only one child knew of their father's success—Rose Dilworth said that they were waiting to tell the rest of the family when they were all together. 

The couple's dream may have come true in the past few weeks, but they both still plan to carry on life as normal. James Dilworth, the second Westchester lottery winner this year, will continue working as an auto-mechanic at New Rochelle Nissan, and does not plan on retiring anytime soon. 

"It doesn't really change anything. I've got to work,” he said. “I couldn't stop working."