After winning $500,000 instantly in January 2010, this week he scratched off a ticket for the $4,000,000 Gold Bullion game and won $100,000, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

Merritt, a native of Roanoke Rapids, bought both lucky tickets at Bobby’s Grocery on Bolling Road in his hometown.

After winning big for a second time, he shared the good news with his wife. “She just fell out laughing,” he recalled. “She said, ‘I can’t believe you did it again.’”

With the prize money he won in 2010, Merritt was able to invest in his industrial piping company. Now retired, he says he will share some of his $69,203 in after-tax winnings with his three sons and take a vacation somewhere with his wife.

“I was just lucky again,” he said. “It’s great.”

As of this morning, one $100,000 prize, a $1 million prize and a $4 million prize are among those that remain to be claimed in the $4,000,000 Gold Bullion game.

Merritt is the second player in North Carolina this week to claim a second major lottery prize.

Ivan Gilbert, a self-employed painter from the small town of Horse Shoe in Henderson County, won $1 million instantly this week. In May 2012 he scratched his way to a $100,000 prize.