Don Woomer was just an ordinary guy who struck it rich.

In 1987, Woomer and Linda K. Despot won

$46 million in the Penn­syl­va­nia Lottery, at the time the largest jackpot ever won in a North American lottery.

Donald R. “Don” Woomer Sr., 87, Hollidays­burg, died Sunday after a brief battle with cancer.

Woomer no longer holds his lottery distinction, said Gary Miller, Pennsylvania Lottery spokesman.

Today that title belongs to the nearly $1.6 billion jackpot shared by three winning Powerball tickets in the Jan. 13, 2016, drawing, Miller said.

“In 1987, $46 million was indeed a huge jackpot — and especially for a game sold in only one state,” Miller said. “How times have changed: Three decades later, the starting jackpot is $40 million for the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state games.”

Woomer, who was a self-employed plasterer, was a generous man even before winning the lottery.

“I first met Don in 1969 at the Pennsylvania Health Gym owned by Jake Webb. Don was an active member and sponsored the self-improvement award,” said Rusty Baker, head of the maintenance department at the Blair Regional (formerly Hollidaysburg Area) YMCA. “He has always been a good-hearted guy. He always had time for the younger guys. He was a good, down-to-earth guy.”

Woomer had been a member of the Hollidays­burg Area YMCA for more than 20 years, said Tom Kopriva, retired executive director.

“He was an ordinary guy and a gentleman,” Kopriva said. “He would come in and talk to anybody. We had tables in the member’s lounge. He would come in and work out and share baked goods and stories. They would sit and talk. Don was one of the leaders. He had a great sense of humor.”

Woomer also was generous to the YMCA.

“When he won the big lottery, he made a donation to help purchase outside playground equipment,” Kopriva said. “He was a regular annual supporter. He would do things like purchase a dozen basketballs and put them in the gym. That was the way he liked to do things. He always supported the Y as a member and a donor.”

“Before his health failed, he was here religiously. He was not just a member, but an active member,” Baker said. “He always donated.”

Jim Sheridan became friends with Woomer at the YMCA.

“He was a wonderful man. He was always friendly and a very compassionate man. We would go to the Y on Monday, Wednes­day and Friday, and Don was always there,” Sheridan said.

Woomer was a Univer­sity of Pittsburgh sports fan.

“We (Kopriva and wife, Jolene) had a license plate that said ‘house divided’ with both a Pitt Panther and a Penn State Nittany Lion, Kopriva said. “Boy, did he want one of those license plates.”

At Woomer’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral service.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.