DeKALB | On Friday, the Illinois Lottery announced the name of it’s newest millionaire–DeKalb resident Ron Steger, proud owner of a giant check for $4.5 million.

The winning ticket was sold at Road Ranger, 1734 Sycamore Road.

“On Sept. 4, he came to his regular store, worked with his friend who is a clerk here, to buy his winning lotto ticket for a $4.5 million jackpot,” said Jodie Winnett, acting Illinois Lottery superintendent.

Steger said he was vacationing with his wife in Wisconsin during Labor Day weekend when the winning numbers were announced. Steger said he found out he won after checking the numbers in the newspaper, then went to Road Ranger to have the clerk scan his ticket.

“It said ‘See Lottery Agent’ so I knew something was up,” Steger said. “So then I went home and got on my computer to see how many other people won the jackpot and I saw that I was only one person. At that point, my wife started crying. She told me to sit down because I was pacing. She said ‘You’re going to end up having a heart attack’ so I sat down and just relaxed for the rest of the day.”

Steger said he’s been playing the same sets of numbers for 25 years.

“I figured eventually these numbers had to hit,” Steger said. “When I first started playing, some of the numbers were my daughters ages. But the numbers that hit, they were just random numbers that I picked. But I picked them 24 years ago or so when first I started playing these numbers.”

Steger has worked locally in construction for 20 years. Some of his work includes construction at Northland Shopping Plaza as well as some buildings on the NIU campus.

Steger said he doesn’t feel different after winning the millions. Even after receiving his check, Steger said he has been working to remodel his kitchen and bathroom.

“We’re just going to fix up our house,” Steger said. “I’ve been restoring it for the past 15 years. I’m at the home stretch now, and I can actually afford to do it.”

Steger said his other plans for his money include buying his two daughters houses and using the rest to retire with his wife.

Road Ranger Manager Steve Wargo said Ron has been coming to the store to buy his lottery tickets for years.

“Ron is a regular customer and we couldn’t ask for any better customer,” Wargo said. “He plays the games and it paid off finally.”

For selling the winning ticket, Wargo and Road Ranger received a $45,000 bonus, one percent of the jackpot. Wargo said while he and the other employees received a small bonus, most of the money will go to their corporate office.

“We’re thrilled that we have a winner and we’re able to share the winnings with our retailer,” Winnett said.

Winnett said while Steger and other winners benefit from the Illinois Lottery, much of the profits go to support public education as well as the capital fund for road projects and improving schools, colleges and universities.

“We’re a not-for-profit, we are a charity and, again, all of our proceeds go back into the communities around Illinois,” Winnett said. “So when you play you the lottery, everybody wins.”

Steger said he will continue to play the lottery.

“I’ve been playing the same numbers for years and I have 19 other sets of numbers that I’ve been playing just as long that haven’t hit,” Steger said.