Yes, locally, emotions were high about the announcement of Honda choosing Decatur County as its new home and the prospect that brings. However, for one Bloomington family, Honda is and always has been more than just a brand name.
While relaxing in their Bloomington home, Joe and Paula Bourne watched the Honda announcement on T.V. After the broadcast, relaxation turned into celebration.
“My husband and I are taking vacation and we watched Honda’s announcement on the news. Then we decided to drive up and share the excitement with Greensburg,” Paula Bourne said with delight. “We are just nuts about Honda!”
The couple, who both work at Indiana University, made a trip to Greensburg part of their break. They didn’t make it in time for the reception, but decided to hang out in Greensburg. While at Storie’s, they began sharing their attachment to Honda with patrons of the restaurant. Word spread quickly and it became clear the couple had a story which was both timely and emotional, given the day’s announcement.
For good reason, the Bourne family has great faith in Honda products because they have played a life changing role for the family of four - literally.
A few years ago, the Bourne’s were returning home from a night out. The dark night made the winding Bloomington roads hard to see. Around one of the bends was a huge deer that jumped out in front of their traveling Honda Civic. After hitting the deer, the Honda and everyone inside slide down a 100-foot embankment, hitting trees and bushes along the way.
“It was a huge relief to look around and see our daughters were not hurt,” Paula gratefully said.
That morning, the family went on vacation and was told to not worry about anything. Upon return, the family was shocked to see how badly the car was damaged.
“Seeing that car sitting in a junkyard, completely destroyed, knowing we walked away from it turned us into true Honda believers,” Paula said. “Everything except for where we were sitting was badly damaged.”
Since then, the family has owned four Hondas and one Acura, also made by Honda.
“When our daughters went off to college, we gave them a Honda and the Acura. My husband and I were then confident they would be safe while driving,” said Paula.
Not only are the Bournes happy with their cars, but they are enthused about the Japanese people making Indiana their new home for Honda.
“We have been in Bloomington and Southern Indiana for most of our lives. Indiana is more than corn and big businesses. Indiana is all about Hoosier Hospitality,” Joe proudly said. “I think that was the main reason Honda choose Indiana.”
To comment on or view reaction to this or other local stories please visit www.greensburgdailynews.com.
Honda Central
June 30, 2006
‘Bourne’ believers in Honda
- Honda Central
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Honda named "Greenest Automaker" by Union of Concerned Scientists
Honda has earned the title of America’s “2007 Greenest Automaker” from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) for the fourth consecutive time.
- Honda gets 5,000 applicants for 18 jobs When Honda officials said they were delighted by the response the company’s call for applicants returned, they may have been understating things a bit.
- Honda jobs hot on the Web That theory was borne out recently as Honda received a multitude of online applications for the first-ever positions at the Greensburg facility.
- Honda ceremoniously breaks ground on 19th In what promises to be the first of several momentous occasions, Honda announced it will be hosting a limited ground breaking ceremony on March 19.
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Honda begins limited hiring for non-production positions
Honda announced it will begin hiring for a limited number of positions for the new $550 million auto plant it is constructing near Greensburg.
Honda will run a series of employment advertisements beginning this week in the Greensburg Daily News. -
JIM CUMMINGS: Sometimes no news is good news
It’s been easy to get caught up in Honda hysteria lately with all of the happenings in Decatur County. There’s a buzz around this area which hasn’t been felt in some time.
- Konichiwa Greensburg: An update from Vicki Kellerman Greetings from Narita, Japan! After a long but very comfortable flight, we arrived at Narita Airport almost on time, about 6:30 p.m. Narita time and 5:30 a.m. Greensburg time.
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Sayonara Greensburg, Konnichiwa Japan
While most local residents were just getting up, if they slept in, and sipping their first cup of coffee, a group of 23 people from Southeastern Indiana were boarding a plane to Japan.
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Honda site taking shape
The employees may have been whistling while they worked but probably can’t hear it over the loud hum of heavy machinery at the Honda site.
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Honda’s goal: Innovation
“There were many reasons why Honda selected Indiana for our new plant – transportation, infrastructure, land and other business decisions,” Shane McCoy, a 17-year Honda employee who will be responsible for support services at the Greensburg factory, told 320 attendees of the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Sept. 14.
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