Grieving father wins $9-million lottery

WESLEY CHAPEL – The day Gail Przybylski buried his oldest son, he also bought a lottery ticket.

And it won him a $9-million jackpot.

Przybylski's son Roy Hawkins, 30, passed away at home March 1. Przybylski, 52, did not wish to give the details, but said the death of his son — a musician who was trying to start a band — was unexpected.

The family laid Hawkins to rest the afternoon of March 6. On their way home from the Oakside Cemetery, they stopped at the Time Saver Food & General Store in Zephyrhills for soda.

Przybylski also bought $10 worth of lottery tickets for the March 26 drawing.

"I just happened to grab them because we stopped," Przybylski said Monday, saying he "usually" picks up some lottery tickets whenever he's at the store.

He randomly picked the numbers himself. And yes, he believes his son played a part in the winnings.

"We figured maybe he was just looking after us," Przybylski said.

Przybylski, who works at a contractor's supply store, decided to take a lump sum payment of more than $5-million. He said he plans to split the money with his wife Teresa, son David and daughter Crystal Schmitt.

If Hawkins was alive, he would get part of the share too. Hawkins sometimes played the lottery, but he never told his father what he would do if he won millions.

Przybylski plans to start a college fund for his son's two daughters and invest the rest.

He's heard the truisms that money can't buy love, and money doesn't solve problems.

Przybylski understands those words too well.

"I know you're supposed to be happy when you win it, but I'll tell you it's not no big thing," he said.

"I'd rather have my son than my money."

-- Helen Anne Travis, Times staff writer