DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 44-year-old businessman from Des Moines stepped forward Tuesday afternoon to claim the Dec. 14 Powerball jackpot.

Hugh Hawkins opted to take a lump sum of $54.7 million, half the $113.3 million jackpot.

“We are very, very fortunate,” said Hawkins, who appeared at a news conference with his wife, Cindy, their 3-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

Hawkins said he had been on a business trip the week of the drawing and learned only days later that it was a winner.

He had stopped at the Dahl’s supermarket where he purchased it and heard people talking about a winner. He pulled the ticket from his pocket and asked the clerk to check it.

“Well, it was a match, and I haven’t slept in 21/2 weeks,” Hawkins said.

He said it had been something of a “roller coaster year” for his family.

“Back in May 2005, we ran out of money and I needed to file for bankruptcy protection from four credit card companies,” Hawkins said. “And now, today, we have a big pile of money.”

Hawkins said his first task would be to work out a repayment plan.

“We will become debt free,” he said.

He said he and his wife also plan to set up a foundation to aid startup nonprofit organizations and will share some of their winnings with friends and family members.

“Lastly, we are going to have some fun. There are definitely some luxury vacations in our future,” Hawkins said.

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