After This Couple Won A $300 Million Lottery, They Stunned Locals With An Unexpected Decision

Winning the lottery is a spectacular dream for so many people. Despite never having to worry about money, the dream might not be as good as one might believe. This lucky couple turned out to get more than they bargained for.

Stunned The Locals

Mark and Cindy Hill from Dearborn, Missouri, stunned locals when they won millions. They were just like any other couple, they kept to themselves and went about their day-to-day lives.

Life Turned Upside Down

The Hills led a relatively quiet life before winning their fortune in November 2012. Mark was a local factory worker, Cindy was unemployed after losing her office manager job two years prior. The pair has three adult sons and an adopted six-year-old daughter from China.

Times Are Tough

The Hills lived a happy life, but they often fell upon hard times. With only one income, it was sometimes difficult to put food on the table. Cindy looked for other work but had no luck in her job search, she also longed to be home to care for her daughter.

No Other Option

Cindy needed to think of ways to earn money without spending long hours away from home. She didn’t want work full time and was hesitant to accept minimum wage work. Something told her that her luck was about to change. That very day she set out to complete her decided task.

What Would Happen Next?

With a whopping $587.5 million Powerball jackpot up for grabs, Cindy bought five lottery tickets at a gas station for $10. Instead of choosing the numbers herself, she let the computer choose for her. She had hopes of winning, as all lottery ticket-holders do, but she knew the chances were slim.

This Doesn’t Happen To Us

Cindy told ABC News, “I was just telling my daughter the night before, ‘Honey, that probably never happens (people winning).’” The following day as she drove her six-year-old to school, she heard that Missouri had sold a winning ticket. She rushed to a local convenience store to find out the lucky numbers.

Heart Attack

After searching through her tickets, Cindy could not quite believe her eyes. There, plain as day, were the winning numbers. “I called my husband and told him, ‘I think I am having a heart attack,’” she recalled. “‘I think we just won the lottery!’”

Astounding Win

The Hills had just won half of the record jackpot, at $293 million, instantly turning them into millionaires overnight. Mark had been working long hours at a hot dog and deli packaging factory, but he could now look into spending some well-deserved time off. Their lives had changed forever.

What Now?

Mark wrote on his social media account: ‘We are truly blessed … we were lucky winners of the powerball!’ he wrote, explaining that he had just wanted to confirm the rumors that had been circulating in their small town. Their son Jason, 26, added at the press conference; “I hope we stay grounded and I hope we stay the good people we were yesterday.”

Store Workers Speak Out

This was the largest jackpot ever awarded in Missouri and the second largest Powerball jackpot won in the country. The cashiers who were there at the time of the win, Kristi Williams and Kelly Blount, greeted customers with big smiles. The store is awarded $50,000 for selling the winning ticket. “It’s just awesome,” Williams said. “It’s so exciting.”

Any Grand Purchases?

After the win, the couple announced that they considered adopting another child. They no longer had to worry about their financial issues. The family was not quick to make any extravagant purchases. “I just want to go home and be back to normal,” Cindy said, adding: “Maybe take a nap.”

What Else?

The couple remained down to earth after their life-changing win. Cindy revealed: “My husband’s keeping his same old pickup. He did ask for a red Camaro though.” She added they will set up college funds for their grandchildren, nieces and nephews. They also planned to launch a scholarship fund, as well as donate large sums to organizations that deal with adoption.

Don’t Forget Who You Are

“I’m very happy for him,” Jason told ABC News. “He’s worked hard in his life; well, not anymore. Well, I hope we all stay very grounded, stay humble and don’t forget who we are.”

Many Concerns

Though grateful, Cindy was wary of the situation, “Obviously when it’s that big of a Powerball you’re going to get people coming out of the woodwork and some of them might not be too sane and we have to protect our family,” she said. “This isn’t what I thought it’d be like. I am grateful but I think there’s going to be a lot of not good stuff that comes along with it too.” Was Cindy right to be concerned?

What Did The Rest Of The Family Think?

Mark’s mother spoke out about the family’s newfound wealth, “It’s just a shock,” she told a local news channel. “My daughter-in-law came down this morning and she said she was so nervous… and she said, ‘I think I won that lottery,’and I said, ‘You’re kidding’.”

Neighbors Talk

“He’s a very good guy,” their neighbor Rose Downing said fondly of Mark. “It couldn’t have happened to anyone better. If I couldn’t have won it, I’m glad he won it, cause I think he’ll help the community.” Yet it appeared that not all members of the Hill family were quite so innocent, what dark family secrets were about to be uncovered?

What Did They Want To Stay Hidden?

One of their sons, 30-year-old Cody, appears to have been convicted of a number of serious crimes and had even served time behind bars. Public records at the Kansas Department of Corrections show that n 2003 Cody was arrested for arson and criminal damage. He was later arrested again for aggravated assault in 2008.

Would They Leave And Never Come Back?

For Cindy, the win gave her the opportunity to spend stress-free time with her beloved family.  “It’s really going to be nice to spend time – not have to work – and be able to take trips with our family,” she said. “We want to go back to China, Ireland of course – we’re Irish – and wherever the win takes us.”

Trouble Ahead

After traveling for three months, the win led them back home to Missouri. The couple continued to live in Dearborn. Many neighbors no longer treated the Hills as they once did, they were inquisitive and would scrutinize the couple’s behavior. Some were even caught snooping on their property.

Time To Act

The couple decided to give back to their local community. They donated money to civic projects in Camden Point, Missouri, Mark’s hometown. Their generosity and devotion to the community did not go unnoticed. What did people truly think of their big win?

Townspeople Speak Out

“They are very conservative people,” Walt Stubbs, a former high-school friend of the Hills and chief of the area’s fire department, told the HuffPost. “They are doing some really nice things for the community and they’ve taken care of their family.” Their plans for their community did not stop there.

More Chari

The Hills decided it was time to build a new fire station in the town.  The new facility would offer a connection to the main roads and the local highways. The building would also be energy efficient, eco-friendly and offer living quarters to those who were committed firefighters.

Hit A Sore Point

“It’s a situation where if we had to do it ourselves, it would take 25 years,” Stubbs added. For Mark, this was a worthy cause that was particularly close to his heart. His own father’s life had been saved twice by volunteer firefighters in recent years. This was his way of showing his endless gratitude and giving back.

A Name To Be Remembered

Mark asked KMBC, “How many towns of 500 people have an ambulance service that’s manned 24-7? Very few. I’m proud to be part of that.” The Hills were using their money for good.

Doesn’t End There

As well as the fire station, the Hills also paid for a new baseball field. They generously donated more than $50,000 to their community. Camden Point’s mayor Kevin Boydston, was delighted by the family’s extreme generosity.

Catching Attention Now

Boydston told HuffPost, “I’ve said all along that these lottery winnings could not have gone to a better couple. They are giving back to the community, just like they said they would.”  The local town’s people were so grateful.

Paying Respects

The pair also decided to give back to the local high school. They had both graduated from Dearborn’s North Platte High School, they chose to donate to the school’s scholarship fund.  Mark’s mother Shirley Hill had something else to say.

What Would She Say

Shirley told HuffPost, “I’m real proud of them. They have stayed grounded. That’s their nature.” She beamed with pride. There are many who are seduced by the allure of a new glamorous lifestyle after winning millions, but the Hills remained good, wholesome people.

In Their Honor

On July 16, 2016, the community showed their thanks to the Hills. The Camden Point Fire Department dedicated its new facility to Mark and Cindy, celebrating their generous actions. “He’s very private and he doesn’t like to make a lot of splash about things,” Camden Point Fire Protection District board president Steve Folck said of the former to KCTV.

Can Never Repay Their Kindness

Folck continued, “But he’s done things for the city of Camden Point, for North Platte High School, and it’s ongoing.” He added, “I mean his generosity just knows no bounds. It’s just an amazing family.”