Lottery Big Spin Leaves County Pair With Big Bucks to Spend

Don Rimlinger of Orange, who hopes to retire next year, parlayed his wife’s lottery ticket into a $100,000 retirement nest egg Saturday in the latest Big Spin in Sacramento.

Rimlinger, 54, an air conditioner installer, said he bought seven tickets on Christmas Eve for himself and visiting relatives. His wife, Belinda, drew the $100 winning ticket that qualifies the holder to be placed in the pool for participation in the Big Spin.

“But she said: ‘Please, put your name on it. I’d be too embarrassed to be on TV if I have to spin,’ ” Rimlinger said from Sacramento. “I didn’t think we’d have a chance anyway, but here we are. It’s a thrilling experience.”

He said he planned to retire next year and the money would be mostly used for the retirement plans.

A second Orange County man, Robert Sullivan, 52, of La Habra, won $50,000 Saturday in the lottery.

Sullivan, the vice president for sales of Tony’s Express Service in Glendale, said part of the money would be used to pay off debts from the recent weddings of his son and daughter, who married within a month of each other.

“And I’ll think about what to do with the rest. I’ll probably try and make some wise investments,” he said.

He said Saturday’s payoff only gave him incentive to buy more tickets.

“I plan to be back up here again,” he said.