Talk of the Town - Whitley County

(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Above, the Trier Ford dealership donated an autographed football to Passages Inc. From left is Tom Trier and Grant Trier of the Trier Ford dealership, Tom O'Neill and Randy Holler of Passages Inc. Below, Grant Trier provides a closer look at the piece of Notre Dame history, complete with a certificate of authenticity.

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

It's certainly a piece of Notre Dame history and while Grant Trier joked that he and brother, Tom, have thrown it around the showroom a time or too, it's been kept safely in a display case at the family dealership.
Recently, however, the Triers presented the autographed piece of Notre Dame football history to a deserving non-profit entity in Whitley County as a token of recognition for a long-lasting, valued relationship -- Passages Inc.
The rare piece of Notre Dame history holds the signatures of seven of Notre Dame's Heisman Trophy winners dating from 1943 until 1987. Signatures include that of Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, John Lattner, Leon Hart, Paul Horning, John Huarte and Tim Brown. Two of those winners are now deceased, adding to the value of the ball.
"The football was given to the dealership 20 years ago by Ford," said Grant Trier. At the time, the footballs were part of a fundraiser for Notre Dame which Ford Motors supported by purchasing the signed footballs and giving them away. Trier said he brought the football back to Columbia City following a dinner with one of the men who signed the ball, Paul Horning, and put it away. He joked that the ball had been tossed around the showroom at Trier Ford in downtown Columbia City a time or two since then.
"We've got an accumulation," Trier said, adding that it made sense to give the piece of history to a deserving non-profit that might be able to use it to raise funds.
Trier said they selected Passages Inc, an organization that serves differently-abled residents of Whitley County, because of the organization's long-time relationship with Trier Ford. Over the years, Passages Inc. has purchased numerous service vehicles from the local dealership, remaining committed to the notion of shopping locally.
"We've been good friends of Passages Inc. over the years and we've had an ongoing business relationship over many, many years," Trier added.
"Passages certainly appreciates the support of community leaders like Grant (Trier) and Trier Ford," said Passages Inc. president Tom O'Neill. "That link to an organization like us is critially important," he added.
O'Neill said Passages Inc. board of directors had not yet made a firm decision on what to do with the valuable piece of sports memorabilia (save it and watch the value grow....or sell it soon).
"We will eventually use it to raise funds," O'Neill said.
"With the shortfall in State revenues and the resulting budget cuts, every dollar becomes important for Passages," said board member and finance committee chairman Randy Holler. "It is wonderful that we have caring and responsible civic leaders such as the Trier Ford dealership and the Trier family here in Columbia City."
Holler acknowledged the importance of Passages and Trier's business relationship over the years as well.
"This is just another example of why it is important to do business locally," Holler said. "Fortunately, sometimes the rewards for doing so are clear, such as today."