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Man keeps childhood promise, splits Powerball jackpot with brother

Posted at 8:28 AM, Oct 14, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-14 08:28:51-04

Bend, OR (KPTV) — A Bend man is in the running for the best brother ever.

Eric Hale of Bend won a $1 million jackpot in the Sept. 24 Powerball drawing. He correctly picked five numbers, but missed the Powerball.

After learning he had won, Hale quickly called his brother in Yakima, WA.

“When I was a kid, I promised my brother that if I ever won the lottery, I would split it with him,” Hale said. “He was my first call when I realized I won.”

Quinn Hale told lottery officials he didn’t believe his brother at first.

“This is beyond cool,” he said. “I never believed he would actually do it.”

After taxes, each brother took home around $335,000, according to the Oregon Lottery.

Eric Hale purchased the winning ticket at Quick Way Market in Bend on the way to visit his mother. He played the same numbers he has picked for the past 20 years.

Eric Hale said he is going to invest some of the money and continue graduate school, according to an Oregon Lottery release. Quinn Hale said he is going to use the money to put a down payment on a motorhome and pay off bills.

*Photo courtesy of (KPTV)*