Ten blood donors will gather at the downtown Dayton Community Blood Center (CBC) Thursday, Sept. 19 to find out who will be crowned “King of the Road.” All are computer-selected finalists in the “King of the Road Summer Blood Drive” but only one will claim the grand prize Harley-Davidson Road King Classic motorcycle.CBC partnered with Gover Harley-Davidson in Piqua, REACH Magazine and W Productions in Urbana on the King of the Road campaign. Everyone who registered to donate blood with CBC May 28 through Aug. 31 was automatically entered in the drawing to win the Road King Classic.
The 10 finalists come from six of the counties in CBC’s 15-county service area:
1. Kevin O’Connor, London, OH.
2. Fred Klauser, Richmond, IN.
3. Robert Lackey, Centerville, OH.
4. Timothy Tobe, Anna, OH.
5. Mark Hoersten, Sidney, OH.
6. Sally Craft, Richmond, IN.
7. Thomas Kleptz, Troy, OH.
8. William Wion, Sidney, OH.
9. Megan Meriam, Huber Heights, OH.
10. Gary Moore, Huber Heights, OH.
The final drawing and announcement event will begin at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Dayton CBC. The finalists will choose from 10 envelopes, only one of which contains a golden ticket. On command, they will open their envelopes simultaneously. The finalist holding the golden ticket is the new owner of the Road King Classic.
Harley Davidson introduced the Road King in 1994 and it quickly reached iconic status. Its bloodlines reach back to the classic 1964 Electra Glide model. Though popular as the ultimate cruising bike, it is fully equipped for long-distance touring.
The new 810-pound Road King Classic combines style and power with a four-stroke, two-cylinder V-Twin engine and a list price of $19,599. The Classic model has a nostalgic look with leather-wrapped saddlebags, a chrome fuel tank console, tooled metal detailing, and chrome laced wheels with whitewall tires.
THE TOP 10 FINALISTS:
- Kevin O’Connor lives in London, OH. He entered the King of the Road drawing June 19 when he donated at a CBC mobile blood drive at his work, the Yamada of North America plant in South Charleston. Kevin, age 52, started donating blood back in the 80’s. “It doesn’t hurt to give when you’re able,” he said. “Someday, it may serve someone I know and love.” He once owned a Harley Electra Glide, but had to sell it to pay bills. “As a former motorcycle rider, I have experienced the joys and rewards of cycling and appreciate all its wonderfulness.” Fred says his wife and seven-month old granddaughter make his life complete. Winning the Road King would be icing on the cake. “I can imagine this shining new hog purring under us, letting the sun and wind soak us in freedom and adventures,” he says. “My 1976 Electra Glide was a roaring thundering hog, I really miss it.”
- Fred Klauser is from Richmond, IN. He is 58 and has worked at Belden Wire & Cable in Richmond for 39 years. He entered the drawing July 12 when he donated at Belden’s regular CBC mobile blood drive. “I used to ride all the time,” he said. “I never had a Harley but did have a Kawaski 900, and then a 750, but never a Harley. I loved to ride.” His wife Tanya also works at Belden. Bill says she encouraged him to give blood several years ago and they both donate each time Belden hosts a CBC blood drive. They have three children (Jennifer, Christopher and Laurie) and three grandchildren (Autumn, Damien and Dominick). They enjoy hiking and traveling and have visited all 50 states. Bill has restored several old cars and has owned four motorcycles… but never a Harley.
- Robert Lackey is from Centerville, OH. He’s 57, employed by Account Recovery Consultants, and with 58 lifetime donations is one of the more frequent donors among the finalists. He says he began donating back in the ‘70’s when he was asked by a friend to donate blood for his mom. He entered the drawing when he donated at the Dayton CBC July 19. Robert lost his sister to cancer and his step-father is in remission. “Donating is very important to me,” he says. “It is a way I can give back to my community. Donating is a gift of life to someone in need!” He also says, “I married my best friend and the love of my life! We have a wonderful family, daughter, son in law and a beautiful granddaughter. The best thing in life is being a Grandparent!” What could make it better? “I always wanted a Harley!”
- Timothy Tobe is from Anna, OH. He’s 30, a 2006 Ohio State graduate, and works as a mechanical engineer at Honda Transmission Manufacturing in Russells Point. He entered the drawing when he made his 21st lifetime donation during the CBC mobile drive at Honda on June 20. Tim and his wife Mindy have two boys (Carson, 4 and Austin, 2), and are expecting their third child in January. “My first blood donation experience was when I was in high school,” he says. “Up to that point I always had (and still do have) a fear of blood, but after the first time giving I realized how easy the CBC made it. Knowing that I could help others keeps me going back - plus you never know when you could be on the receiving end.” He’s never owned a motorcycle, but has been tempted watching his father and brother-in-laws enjoy them and wondered what it would be like to own one. “It's one of those "toys" I would probably never own unless I won it,” he said. “Now that I've got the chance I'm getting the fever. When I left work today I made a detour through the motorcycle parking to check out all the bikes and started to imagine how sweet it would be to park my own there!”
- Mark Hoersten is from Sidney, OH. He entered the drawing when he made this 38th lifetime donation at the CBC mobile blood drive at his work, Honda of America Manufacturing in Anna. He’s 56 and has been married to his wife Diana for 32 years. They have a daughter who is an Army doctor, a son who is a mechanic and another daughter in the medical field. His favorite hobby is woodworking and he makes crosses to give away. “I first started donating blood when I was about 25 working in a factory in Piqua,” he says. I donate every chance I get. Why? If I can help save a life by donating blood it would be completely worth my time and effort. Who knows, someday my life could be possibly saved by someone else donating blood.” In his 25 years with Honda he has cast engine blocks for Honda cars and more recently motorcycles. He rode motorcycles growing up and has been dreaming of a new one. “I sold my Honda GL650 Silver Wing in the spring with the plans of getting a bigger bike in 2014. Can I picture myself on a Harley? The Road King Classic is definitely a bigger bike.”
- Sally Craft makes her home in Richmond, IN. She’s one of only two female finalists! She entered the drawing May 29, the day after it began, and has 30 lifetime donations. “Oh cool!” she said when she learned she was a finalist. “I didn’t realize there was a drawing. But I know my son, he’s been wanting a motorcycle.” Sally is 53 and employed by Vandor Corporation, an injection molding company in Richmond. Her son is a platelet donor with 47 lifetime donations. “He’s the one that got me to donate,” she said. “I would give it to him more than likely. But it would be ideal for me to trade in because I need a car. But we’ll see! I hate to plan and get all psyched up, but I feel blessed that I have the opportunity.”
- Thomas Kleptz lives in Troy and is the most dedicated donor among the finalists with 85 lifetime donations. His wife Melissa says, “You can’t find a better spokesperson, he’s very dedicated to giving blood and he’s very proud of it!” They’ve been married nearly 19 years and have four children, Lauren, Nicholas, Madeline and Nathan. Tom is a principal in OneTrust Financial, an independent trust company that he and a partner started three years ago. He grew up on farm in Union, OH and got his B.S. and M.B.A. in Finance from Indiana University. He’s active in the community and says, “Personally I am a fan of Abraham Lincoln and have collected campaign memorabilia from his two campaigns. My parents are avid antique automobile collectors with 26 Marmons so I have that in my blood also.” He got started donating blood in college. “My Dad has had cancer and my Mom is anemic so they cannot give and I thought why not?” He entered the drawing July 17 with one of his regular donations at the First Presbyterian Church in Troy. “To me it is something that I can do that doesn’t cost a dime and it really helps people out,” he says. “Luckily, my family has not needed blood transfusions, but I would like to think if we did there would be donors out there doing the same thing.” He’s never owned a Harley but says, “On the farm we had mini-bikes and now four wheelers that have been fun and my kids have also enjoyed them.”
- William Wion lives in Sidney and entered the drawing Aug. 2 when he donated at the CBC blood drive at the Relay for Life in Shelby. “Oh wow!” he said when he learned he was a finalist. “I don’t currently have a motorcycle right now, but I am interested. I had one a long time ago.” William is 47. He has a business called American Patriot Security and also works for Tuente Farm. William and his wife Lisa have been married for 13 years. His son Drew is in the Army National Guard and he has three grandchildren. “I started donating blood when I worked for the Sheriff’s Department,” he says. “The reason I continue to donate blood is it helps people.” The possibility of winning the Road King Class has him thinking about what it was like when he owned a motorcycle years ago. He says, “I can imagine myself on a Harley today.”
- Megan Meriam is a newlywed living in Huber Heights, OH. “Oh cool!” she exclaimed when she learned she was a Top 10 Finalist. She entered the drawing June 28 when she donated at the Dayton Donor Center. Megan is 26 and teaches with Dayton Public Schools. She and her husband Chuck were just married in July and have two dogs. Megan says she started donating blood in high school as soon as she was old enough. “My dad was diagnosed with leukemia in 2000, when I was 13,” she said. “I saw how much blood he received. Seeing how he was just one person, I thought the amount of blood needed for everyone who was sick or injured had to be huge. So I just want to be able to help in any way that I can. Every time I donate I think about my dad again and how my blood could be saving someone else's dad or other family member.” As for winning a Harley, she says, “I don't have any experience with motorcycles, but it might be fun to learn to ride one!” Her husband Chuck doesn’t ride either, but this could turn into a new adventure for them both. Just like getting married. “It could be heck of summer – I know!” she said.
- Gary Moore makes his home in Huber Heights, OH. Gary is 53. He entered the drawing Aug. 1 when he made his 15th lifetime donation during a CBC mobile blood drive held at his workplace, Select Industries, Inc. His experience with motorcycles is limited, the idea of owning a Road King Classic is intriguing. “It’s good news!” he said.