LONG BEACH, Calif. — With entries coming from all across the country — from accountants in New York to plumbers in Houston — more than 197,000 entries were submitted for the $25,000 DENSO Dare to Dream Sweepstakes, which launched this past fall. Stevan Ford of Belfry, Ohio, is the lucky winner.

“Mr. Ford’s name was chosen randomly from more than 197,000 entries,” said Fran Labun, vice president, Sales Group, DENSO Sales California. “We hope that his winnings will help make Mr. Ford’s dreams come true.”

After working for GM for more than 35 years, Ford is now an employee of Wright State University – his alma mater and where he met his wife, Rebecca.

“I wanted a no-stress job in my second career,” Ford told Larry Fidance, manager, Marketing Department at DENSO Sales California, when speaking of his current job working in the mailroom. Working at the university helps him earn extra income following his retirement from GM.

A longtime car enthusiast, Ford’s dream car, a 1976 Chevy Corvette, joined his family just one month after the birth of his first son, and he still owns the car today. Two more sons followed, and the Fords now have five grandchildren.

“You appreciate your car as you get older, you baby it,” Ford confessed of his 30-plus year relationship with the Corvette.

“DENSO parts are awesome,” said Ford, “I trust DENSO parts enough to use them in my Corvette.”