Nov 14, 2002 By Suzanne Hance 2 min read

Carl R. Stewart of Ronco picked up a Pennsylvania Lottery jackpot Wednesday – and the big winner is his two-year-old daughter, Carly Sue. Stewart said he plans to set up a college fund for his daughter with the $81,314 he won in the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Cash 5 drawing, held on Sept. 19.

“She’s the big winner, here,’ said Stewart. Ironically, Wednesday was also Carly’s birthday.

They were both on hand as Pennsylvania Lottery officials Terri Hopkins and Karen Bogucki presented Stewart with his check at Mary’s Brass Rail Bar in Point Marion, where he purchased the winning ticket.

Stewart said he first learned of his windfall when he watched the televised drawing with his father. He next shared the news with his girlfriend, Kimberly Smith, but they never imagined the jackpot would be so big.

“They thought maybe I won a couple hundred dollars,” said Stewart, noting he didn’t learn the value of his prize until he took his winning ticket to a retailer for verification.

He was still somewhat in shock on Wednesday.

“Look at me shaking here,” said Stewart, when he was presented with the check..

“He was so nervous, he could barely sign the release form,” said Hopkins.

A construction worker for R.C. Swager, Stewart said he is a regular lottery player, and he plays a variety of games. Stewart said his winning numbers for the Cash 5 drawing were based on the birthdays of family members.

The total jackpot for the drawing was $243,942 split equally between three winners, minus 27 percent in federal withholding taxes.

To play Cash 5, players select five numbers from a field of one to 39. Each game is $1. Players may select their own set of numbers or have a computer “quick pick” numbers for them. If a player matches two, three, four or five of the numbers drawn that day, he or she is a cash prize winner.

Lottery proceeds benefit older citizens.