July 14, 2010 -- After 40-plus years working at a local manufacturing plant, New Britain native Wilman Bravo retired and relocated to Sabana Hoyos, Puerto Rico. And today, while back in New Britain for a family visit, Bravo stopped at a favorite local convenience store to buy a cup of coffee and some lottery tickets, including the $10 instant game, $100,000,000 Diamond Mine. It took only a moment for Bravo to shed the mantel of "retired factory worker" and don a new title, that of "Connecticut" Newest Lottery Millionaire." Revealing a matching pair of 16", Bravo discovered he had won a prize that far exceeded his expectations... $1,000,000.

"I did a double take. I took off my glasses, looked at the ticket again, cleaned my glasses, and then looked again," Bravo told lottery officials with a laugh. Unable to reach his son by cell phone to share the incredible news, he got in his car and drove to his son" house, ticket in hand. With tears in his eyes, "Good tears, tears of joy," he said, Bravo handed his son the winning ticket. "I was in a state of disbelief," said Robert Bravo, in discussing his father" good fortune. Next, father and son shared the experience of driving to CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill this morning to claim the elder Bravo" $1,000,000 top prize.

There are ten top prizes of $1,000,000 in the $100,000,000 Diamond Mine game, each payable as a 20-year annuity or a one-time cash lump-sum equivalent. Bravo chose the lump-sum value of $578,400 (before taxes), with plans to pay off his home mortgage and to help his family financially. "I will never forget this day," he said.

Previous "$100,000,000 Diamond Mine" top prize winners include Craig Comparone of Plantsville, Zbigniew Osenko of New Haven and Theresa Pabis of Stratford.

For selling Bravo his top prize winning ticket, Cumberland Farms, located at 194 East Street in New Britain will receive a $10,000 bonus check from the CT Lottery.