Georgia Man Claims First Part Of $390 Million Jackpot

ATLANTA — When Ed Nabors discovered that he had won half of the largest lottery jackpot in American history, he sat stunned in his rig until a dispatcher radioed wondering what was going on.

Yesterday turned out to be a short workday for the 52-year-old truck driver.

"He was shaking so hard they sent him home from work," said his mother, Doris Nabors, who shares a home with her son in Rocky Face, Ga., about 90 miles north of Atlanta.

Ed Nabors was the first person to claim part of the $390 million jackpot from Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing. The only other winning ticket was sold at a liquor store in New Jersey, and the holder did not immediately come forward yesterday.

Mr. Nabors did not check his $10 worth of lottery tickets before going to bed Tuesday, and it wasn't until a co-worker told him that a winning ticket was bought at his regular convenience store that he decided to take a look.

"I'm still numb," Mr. Nabors said.

He elected to take his winnings in a lump sum instead of annual installments, and he will get $116.5 million before taxes, or more than $80 million after.