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Lighters commemorate state championship |
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Monday, 22 January 2007 |
 This limited-edition ECCHS Zippo lighter commemorates the Crusaders' state championship title. The front shows the school name and Crusader logo while on the back the "33-0" undefeated season banner is engraved along with a list of team members. The lighter created in school colors is polished gold with maroon printing. While it may be one of the most unique trophies ever presented, the world-renowned Zippo Manufacturing Co. recently produced a limited-edition lighter commemorating Elk County Catholic High School’s 2006 PIAA boys basketball state championship.
Exactly 33 lighters were manufactured as a tribute to the team’s undefeated season.
Created in the school’s colors, the polished gold lighters with maroon writing features designs on both sides. On the front is the school name with “state champions” and “St. Marys, PA” written below it, while the Crusader logo with a basketball blazing past is shown on the body of the lighter.
“PIAA Boys Class A State Basketball Champions 2005-06” is engraved on the back. Each individual player and their team number is listed along with head coach Aaron Straub. A special “33-0” banner is also shown, recognizing the team’s undefeated season.
The innovative idea was that of Robert Troha. As both a Comtec sales consultant and Zippo promotional representative, Troha utilized the resources of two area businesses.
For the past 10 years, Comtec Manufacturing Co. of St. Marys has been the sole supplier of the cam portion of the lighter. Troha said Comtec manufactures between 12 million to 14 million pieces per year as Zippo uses approximately 1 million cam pieces per month.
Troha pitched the idea to Comtec’s Sales Manager Steve Leuschel and Owner Dave DeLullo. DeLullo fully backed the idea as a strong supporter of youth activities and local sporting events.
Troha then approached ECC varsity basketball coach Aaron Straub, who was impressed with the project.
After receiving permission from the school, the PIAA was the remaining entity needed to approve the project. The PIAA, however, would not permit the lighters to be dispersed to the players unless they were presented as a type of trophy.
Troha relayed the information to Mike Martin, Zippo’s vice president of sales and a PIAA basketball referee. Martin said the company had several wooden display boxes which could be used as a presentation tool.
The boxes featured a dual display, used to simultaneously show both the front and back design of a lighter.
Because players received only one lighter, the remaining slot needed to be filled. Bev Hall of Zippo’s promotional products division created a miniature program featuring the team’s roster, coaching staff, student assistants, schedule/scores, season results and individual awards. The mini programs were supplied by Printing Plus.
Zippo personnel worked diligently on the product for four weeks from the design process to creating the final product.
Each ECC player and coach received a lighter, compliments of both Comtec and Zippo, as well as other school and diocesan personnel. Both businesses used their lighters as part of their company product display.
During ECC’s annual Maroon and Gold Auction, one of the remaining lighters sold for $500. This proved to be a successful item for the auction, as the average Zippo lighter’s retail value ranges from $15 to $25.
The last of the limited lighters will be raffled off at ECC’s Diamond Dazzle, hosted by the school’s Mothers, Fathers and Friends Association.
The Bradford-based company has created various lighters for area business including two for Straub Brewery – one featuring its logo and the other a special-edition piece commemorating its 130th anniversary. Additional lighters feature the logos of Comtec, and Metaldyne/Honda, which were presented to visiting business associates.
Troha’s son, John, is the sole distributor for Zippo products in Vietnam. Following his retirement from Keystone Carbon, after 40 years of service, Robert began freelancing for Zippo, which has kept him busy the past 11 years. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 April 2007 )
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