Tiger auto shop owner turns new leaf with $500,000

ATLANTA – One Tiger auto body shop owner will turn a new leaf in 2010 with a half-million dollars. James Darnell, 60, played the Georgia Lottery instant game $500,000 Hold 'Em Poker on New Year's Day and won a $500,000 top prize.

Darnell's son purchased the ticket at Clayton Food Mart, 17 Highway 441 S. in Clayton. The grandfather of five scratched the ticket and discovered his good fortune.

"I took it back to the store," Darnell said. "I didn't have any plans for New Year's Day."

The grandfather of five anticipates making home improvements. He and his wife, Cathy, have two adult children.

Darnell, who has owned his auto body shop for more than 30 years, is excited about his lottery win.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corporation has returned more than $11.2 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs including Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia's Pre-K Program. More than 1.2 million students have received HOPE, and more than 940,000 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.