The 2006 Elk County Catholic High School boys basketball team
were on fire during their undefeated state championship run and
were recently given an appropriate award in recognition of that
season.

Zippo Manufacturing Co. produced a limited-edition lighter
recognizing the team’s 2006 PIAA boys basketball state championship
and presented the lighters in a trophy case to the team and
coaches.

Robert Troha, a Comtec Manufacturing Co. sales consultant and
Zippo promotional representative for the last 40 and 50 years, came
up with the idea for the lighters. Comtec of St. Marys has been the
sole provider of the cam portion of Zippo lighters for the past 10
years.

“I saw that this would really be an excellent way to celebrate
and extend a tribute with the local basketball team,” Troha said.
“It’s a pretty unique idea. It’s the first time anybody around this
locality ever went to the state finals (for basketball). (The
lighters are) a local icon made here in Pennsylvania, Bradford and
St. Marys.”

Pat Grandy, Zippo’s marketing communications manager, said “We
often do specially commissioned lighters. But as far as special
editions of basketball trophies, this is the first time we’ve ever
done something like that. This is a first time that a commemorative
lighter has been made for the state basketball championship.

“It’s another unusual commemoration of a very significant event.
Some of the (other) events commemorated on Zippo lighters have been
world-wide in scope … and others have commemorated events closer to
home, events in our region.”

Troha pitched the idea to Comtec’s Sales Manager Steve Leuschel
and Owner Dave DeLullo, who jumped on board, and then approached
ECC varsity basketball coach Aaron Straub, who thought it was a
great idea but had to get authorization to give the lighters to the
players.

Straub got the OK from the high school administration but first
had to get an OK from the PIAA.

“The first step was to check with the PIAA office to see if it
was a legitimate trophy award, and they said as long as it was
presented in a case,” Straub said.

“We did have a problem with the PIAA, who saw it as giving
cigarette lighters to kids. They said no way,” Troha said. “But we
explained yes, it is a lighter that is used to make fire, but it’s
more than just a cigarette lighter – (it’s a collectible). They
said if that’s the case, it has to be a presentation of a
trophy.”

Troha then went to Mike Martin, Zippo’s vice president of sales,
for an idea for a trophy presentation. Martin came up with 35
wooden boxes Zippo used for several trophy cases on specialty Zippo
items.

“He not only gave us authorization to (come up with the
lighter), but he gave us the idea of the box,” Troha said about
Martin, who has his own unique connection to the state
championship. “He’s also good friends of Aaron Straub and an
authorized PIAA referee.”

“I got the opportunity to get to know Mike when he was a
basketball official,” Straub said, adding that it was special that
Martin was a part of the process for making the lighters.

Troha had sat down with Bev Hull, who works for Zippo’s
promotional department, and came up with the design for the
lighters. Exactly 33 lighters, numbered 1 to 33, were produced in
honor of the team’s 33 wins. The lighter uses the school colors,
maroon and gold, and logo on one side with the players’ names and
team numbers, coach Straub’s name and the team’s record on the
other side.

Hull also helped come up with an idea to fill a second lighter
space in the presentation boxes, which had a dual display used to
show both the front and back design of a lighter. She came up with
the idea to use a small program, supplied by Printing Plus, with
information about the basketball season, including the team’s
roster, coaching staff, student assistants, schedule and scores,
season results and individual awards.

Troha said the lighters were packaged and all given to Straub,
who decided on how to distribute them as he saw fit. Each ECC
player and junior high, junior varsity and varsity coach received a
lighter “trophy” during a special presentation at the school last
year.

Troha said the parents and children thought the lighters were
“pretty fantastic” and were “really, really impressed.”

“The parents were really elated,” Troha said. “The kids that
have them won’t part with them for anything. Sometime in the future
they can show them to their children, grandchildren or
whatever.”

“They’re really an outstanding commemorative piece,” Straub
said. “It’s a type of item that, as time goes on, will hold a lot
of significance. We’re very appreciative to receive those (and) of
the generosity of Zippo and the generosity of Comtec (and all those
individuals from both companies involved). It was a very nice
gesture.”

Straub also distributed lighters to school administrators.

“One was left over for the school,” Straub said. “That one will
be put in the trophy case there.”

After distribution, there were only two lighters left over.
Troha said one was offered as a fundraiser during the high school’s
annual Maroon and Gold Auction last year, selling for $500. The
average Zippo lighter’s retail value ranges from $15 to $25.

“It’s all part of the … world of Zippo lighter collecting,”
Grandy said. “Special editions made do become very collectible (as
shown) when Swap Meet collectors come together.”

The last lighter, which Troha believes may go for double the
price, will be given out at ECC’s Diamond Dazzle, hosted by the
school’s Mothers, Fathers and Friends Association, at 5 p.m. Feb.
10 at the Red Fern.