Ten thousand dollars a month can buy a lot of lettuce, especially for produce lovers like Alfred Behney. The 87-year-old Berks Country resident was presented with a commemorative check from the Pennsylvania Lottery for winning a top prize on the $10,000 a Month for Life Scratch-Off ticket.
Behney, a retired truck driver, said he likes to frequent Amish or Mennonite farm stands to see what fresh produce he can snag. Along the way, he’ll stop by a local gas station to pick up some coffee and a Lottery Scratch-Off ticket.
He said he bought this winning ticket on May 27 at Star Gas & Diesel, 8558 Lancaster Avenue, Bethel Township. The retailer will receive a $10,000 selling bonus.
“I’ve been playing Scratch-Offs for years, especially as a truck driver,” said Behney. He ended up taking the annuity option. The cash prize is a lump sum of $1.6 million.
Behney said he found out that he won a top prize after scanning the ticket at the retailer.
“The clerk and I scanned it and we both just stood there, looking at each other. We didn’t believe it!” said Behney. “I thought, ‘There’s got to be something wrong.’”
Behney said he didn’t always live in Berks County.
“I grew up in Schuylkill County where I was an all-star athlete in school,” he said, adding that he also served in the U.S. Army after the Korean War. But that’s not all.
“In 1961, I signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers in Montgomery Alabama. I made $300 a month. My parents had to send me money. But it was such a great experience,” he said.
Decades later, Behney gets an experience he won’t soon forget. Only this time, it’s with the Pennsylvania Lottery.
“Congratulations to Alfred on his remarkable Pennsylvania Lottery win. His good fortune is a reminder that life‑changing prizes are awarded to players across the Commonwealth every day,” said Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne.
“On behalf of the entire Pennsylvania Lottery team, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Alfred on this extraordinary win,” said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “At 87, after serving in the military and spending time on the baseball field, Alfred has already had an incredible journey. We’re truly delighted to see this prize add a new and joyful chapter for him. I’d also like to thank Star Gas & Diesel for their continued partnership. Our retailer partners help us serve our players and support the Lottery’s mission of benefiting older Pennsylvanians.”
