The 2020 Ford Ranger owned by Dan Bradford, 84, of Lima, leaves no doubt about who he will be rooting for on Saturday.
Jim Krumel | For The Lima News
LIMA – Saturdays in the fall, you’ll find Dan Bradford in front of a television watching the Ohio State Buckeyes.
And on four other days of the week, you can catch the 84-year-old man exercising at the Lima YMCA, or enjoying breakfast at one of his favorite diners.
He’s the guy driving a 2020 Ford Ranger that is decked out with Ohio State decals.
“I bought the truck new. It was all white and I had the decals put on it,” Bradford said. “I get a lot of comments on it, mostly from women.”
Bradford is among the many fans who drive vehicles that show their allegiance to a favorite team. With football season just weeks away, The Lima News is asking fans to e-mail photographs ([email protected]) of their vehicle’s tribute to their favorite professional, college or high school team. It can be a simple decal, a license plate or as in Bradford’s case, an entire vehicle. We’ll share the pictures on the Saturday, Sept. 2, Real Wheels page.
Bradford’s truck was all white when he purchased it. He added a large Ohio State decal across the bottom. It is accented with a gray pinstripe above and below it.
There’s also an Ohio State logo at the back of the truck’s bed. Just below the driver’s and passenger’s side door windows is his and his wife’s name.
Being a Buckeyes fan comes naturally for Bradford.
He’s lived in Ohio all of his life, retiring from the Lima Ford Engine Plant after 30 years and also working for three years as a photographer for WLIO-TV. His bride of 62 years, Nancy, is also a lifelong Buckeye resident. Their two daughters, Donna and Amy, are Shawnee graduates.
“Living in Ohio all your life, how could you not be a Buckeyes fan?” Bradford says.
He’s looking forward to the upcoming season, but is making no prediction on what type of year Ohio State will have.
“It’s a mystery right now with a new quarterback coming in. You just cannot assume anything.”
GET YOUR CAR FEATURED
The Lima News publishes photographs of vintage cars, 20 years or older, free of charge in Real Wheels. It is easy to get your car featured:
• Mail: Real Wheels, Newsroom, The Lima News; 205 W. Market St., Suite #100A; Lima, OH 45801.
• Email: [email protected]
• Include: Photograph of your car; year of car, make and model; how many years you have owned the vehicle; car’s history; best memory of car; your name, address and telephone number (the phone number will not be published).
If you have further questions, contact The Lima News newsroom at 419-222-6397 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM
Check out cars we’ve featured and discuss your memories on the Real Wheels page at LimaOhio.com/tag/realwheels.
