An Ohio State University football fan, Van Ness is converting his firetruck into an enormous Buckeyes helmet.
From The Lantern, OSU’s newspaper:
The fire engine, a Ford C-8000 Sanford Pumper, most recently belonged to a landscaping company that used it to transport water…
He … had to keep the project a secret from his family.
“It was classified because I didn’t want my mother to find out I spent money on a fire truck,” he said. “She wouldn’t have been happy.”
Van Ness said the Fire Buck will feature two flat-screen televisions, high-definition satellite coverage of Buckeye football games, a video game system, propane grill, and removable seating on the rear deck.
… The OSU Fire Buck is stationed at Street Creations Body Shop in Groveport, Ohio, for body and paint work, and then will be on its way to Auto Additions in Westerville, Ohio, for graphics. Once finished, the engine will resemble an OSU football helmet…
March 1st, 2010 at 12:49PM
Although this is slightly off topic, I’d like to say a few words about tOSU. They have quite a fan base in Ohio and as far as I can tell, run a pretty tight ship, at least compared to the usual suspects. No doubt there are some problems there also.
But it is interesting that their president, Gordon Gee, has done a hell of a good job in keeping up good relations with the citizens of the state and the state legislature. There will be a slight pay increase this year at tOSU. Tuition has not been increased in three years. And there have been no layoffs.
Gee and some other CEOs – notably Biddy Martin at Wisconsin and Mark Yudof at Cal – also are in to tweeting. This at least gives the impression of openness.
(Yes, I know that Gordon Gee makes an obscene salary. But I’d be willing to pay our guy the same salary if he could do as good a job as Gee.)
October 18th, 2012 at 5:23PM
Hey Bill! This is Travis from this article. I have to agree!! I have met Gee several times and he is an extremely personable individual. He has actually even stopped by our tailgate and signed the truck for us! I used to work at OSU Medical Center and he would make his way around the hospital as well, visiting patients and employees.
I’m not sure we will ever have a more lovable president at the university.