Anaheim Man Spins Up $2.3-Million Prize in Lottery

Orange County’s newest millionaire made his money the easy way--he won it.

Arlie Ragle, 61, of Anaheim, won $2.325 million Saturday on the Big Spin--the first person in the county to win the California Lottery’s grand prize and the fourth to win more than $1 million.

The soon-to-be-former maintainance supervisor for Hitco of Gardena figures he sent in “at least 150 envelopes� containing three lottery tickets purchased at the Farmer’s Market in Gardena, each with one “wheel.�

To be eligible for the Big Spin, players must send in three tickets containing a wheel symbol. A drawing is held to select those who will spin.

Ragle estimated that he and his wife Dolly, 51, spent $10 every Monday on lottery tickets, sending in an envelope whenever they got the required three wheels. Dolly Ragle also works at Hitco as a data-entry operator.

“I’d get writer’s cramp (filling out the tickets),� Ragle said.

The couple’s decision to let Arlie spin was an easy one, he said, because Dolly Ragle “is very emotional. She didn’t think she could get up there.�

Ragle’s prize will be paid out in annual installments over 20 years, minus 20% withheld for federal taxes. Ragle will receive annual checks of $93,000.

Immediate plans for spending the money include “early retirement for both of us, a customized van to travel around in,� and helping their seven children, who range in age from 22 to 39 and live in Ohio. The Ragles left Ohio three years ago.

While Arlie Ragle said he had a vision about two years ago that he would hit big, his wife was a little more skeptical. “I told my wife I knew this would happen. I told her to keep the faith.�