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Mass. Couple Wins $1M Powerball Prize

BOSTON (CBS) -- It's still a "numbing" feeling for Bob and Susan Dole, one of two Massachusetts couples to win $1 million prizes in last week's biggest $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot.

When Susan read the numbers aloud, she says Bob suddenly became quiet.

"He stood up, got real close to me and whispered 'we won,'" says Susan.

It was so real, Bob says his heart was racing, and he looked in a mirror.

"I looked in and my face was beat red. I took my blood pressure, I have high blood pressure anyway, and it was up considerably."

When they turned up at lottery headquarters the next day for their official picture, they were only beginning to grasp what had happened.

Robert Dole
Robert and Susan Dole claim their $1 million Powerball prize. (Image credit: MA Lottery photo)

Bob had the winning ticket only in his pocket and took his own cellphone picture for safety.

"I was afraid it would blow away," said Susan. "I was holding onto it thinking 'oh, dear God, don't let it blow away.'"

Bob bought the ticket at an East Bridgewater Tedeschi's using a combination of birthdays and anniversaries. He had spent about $60 on other quick picks, but his own numbers worked.

"You get that gambler's hunch," he said.

Powerball winners Bob and Susan Dole
Bob and Susan Dole (WBZ-TV)

A frequent player, Bob's hunch paid off, and now the retired couple hopes to go on a cruise and maybe even buy a new home.

"We've had a lot of fun stories in our marriage, but this is the most spectacular one," says Susan.

Never mind that they missed the biggest jackpot by just one number, being a runner-up has been enough of a windfall to make more than a few of their dreams come true.

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