John Gerlach, a Syracuse University parent, received his dream motorcycle today when he picked up his grand prize from the Everson Museum Harley-Davidson Raffle.

The Everson Museum’s Legends of 44 motorcycle raffle ended on Dec. 28, when former SU football coach Dick MacPherson drew Gerlach’s ticket. A total of 1,823 raffle tickets were purchased. They sold for $20 each or six for $100, said Helen Dewey, development director at the museum.

Roy Simmons Jr. and Jim Ridlon, former SU star athletes and the designers of the bike, were present when the winning ticket was drawn, Dewey said.

Gerlach, of Goshen, N.Y., is father to SU senior John Gerlach, an aerospace engineering major. He purchased a single raffle ticket when the motorcycle was on display in the Quad before the Parent’s Weekend football game, Gerlach Sr. said.

‘I didn’t have the money for a ticket in my wallet,’ Gerlach Sr. said. ‘I had to run after my wife and ask for $20, like a kid going after an ice cream truck.’

When he received a phone message on Dec. 29 notifying him of his win, he had completely forgotten about the raffle ticket, Gerlach Sr. said.

‘I had to play the message over a few times before it sunk in.’ Gerlach Sr. said. ‘I couldn’t believe it.’

Gerlach’s son was with him when he received the message.

‘His reaction to winning the bike was extreme jubilation,’ Gerlach Jr. said. ‘He was ecstatic.’

The museum is very excited that someone with a connection to SU won the bike, Dewey said.

‘Gerlach will truly appreciate the Legends of 44 theme and the whole university connection,’ Dewey said.

The annual museum motorcycle raffle serves not only to raise money, but also to raise awareness about the museum and art in general, Dewey said.

‘The raffle did a great job showing that art is fun and that art comes in a lot of different kinds of packages,’ Dewey said. ‘Art and creativity can be incorporated into everyday life.’

Published on January 30, 2006 at 12:00 pm