WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
Someone you wouldn’t necessarily think would be connected to every part of a community is the “trophy guy.” But chances are if you or your kids played sports in Manatee County in the last 37 years or have received an award in school or at work, you’ve obtained a piece created by Don Ide of The Trophy Case.
Don moved from south of Buffalo, New York when he was ten to Anna Maria Island, where his parents owned a grocery store. He attended Anna Maria Elementary, Bayshore Middle School, and Sugg Middle School before graduating from Manatee High School in 1979. While at Manatee High, Don played basketball, baseball, and golf. One year after graduation, he was hired by the City of Bradenton Fire Department.
Playing on a traveling softball team that was winning quite a bit of hardware, Don became inspired to create his own trophies. On his days off from being a firefighter, he worked out of his garage, teaching himself how to make trophies. He took photos of the awards and plaques he’d make, put them in a clear-view binder, and drove to people’s houses to take their orders. After making the trophies, he would drive back to deliver them to clients.
Don says: “Only one other guy did it locally back then. When people discovered I was in that business, they were glad to do business with me. After a while, you take good care of people, your clientele builds up, and before you know it, you’re crazy busy for the next 30 years!”
That’s how Don became known. People, charities, associations, and leagues were starting to recognize him not just for his excellent work but also for his above-and-beyond customer service. His pride in his work was evident to all who encountered him.
In 2010, The Trophy Case was chosen by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce as Small Business of the Year. Don was shocked. At the banquet, they announced his category, and he was speechless. Starting from nothing, Don’s ambition and tenacity to keep going led him to this crowning achievement.
“That’s one of the biggest awards that come in business in this county. The Chamber does so much and has such a great reputation,” Don says as his award is displayed behind his seat at the counter inside The Trophy Case.
Winning the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year award was a big deal for him, but afterward, he was able to sit on the panel as a judge two years in a row. “That’s where you really learn the nuts and bolts of these businesses and charities. It’s truly eye-opening getting the inside scoop on what they’re doing for the community.”
His exceptional award-winning started in 1988 when he won Firefighter of the Year. It was a late summer afternoon when one of those typical Florida summer storms rolled in. A girl caught in the storm had fallen off her boat into the Manatee River.
Don recalls: “We didn’t have any boats back then or many water-saving devices. So, I tied an Igloo cooler to my hip with rope and swam out to get her and pulled her back in.”
He’s always been passionate about helping people, but the television show “Emergency!” cultivated Don’s passion for firefighting. The show was about two Californian fire medics out doing rescues. Don had a friend who worked in the fire department whom he knew in high school, and he knew that’s what he wanted to pursue.
Gene Gallo, retired fire chief and city councilman of Bradenton, is a special friend and mentor of Don’s. Don would go down and visit Gene every three weeks just so Gene would get to know who he was. Finally, he told him, “You go to EMT school, and I’ll hire you!”
As Don started his trophy business, computer engravers had just come out. He bought a used engraver and taught himself at his kitchen table how to engrave. He bought parts for trophies and began to figure out how to lay out plaques. He says he learned from making mistakes.
“You learn real fast as soon as it costs you money, or you have to keep starting over,” he laughs. “I knew from the minute I started it; it was something I loved. That’s never changed.”
He left the fire service in late 1990 and never looked back. His work ethic, quality of work, and the pride he took in it paid off. It’s no surprise that some of his customers have been career-long customers. Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School is one of his oldest clients. The Home Builder’s Association has been a client since he started in 1986. Over the years, Don has had many different people and friends work for him.
“They’re mostly my friends. I remember having firefighter buddies that would come help me during season,” Don reminisces. “My two sons have helped me. They grew up in the shop and learned how to treat people, talk to people, and give back. My sons are very charitable themselves and are awesome men. My stepson helps me out a lot in the shop too. He has his own bench in the back and is like a machine.”
Some of the organizations that Don works with are the Boys Club, Dream Oaks Camp, and Anna Maria Island Community Center. He also has worked with the youth programs in the Exchange Club. Don would put on a picnic for foster kids and their foster families at G.T. Bray Park. He would organize the games and make awards for the kids.
Don smiles: “It gave the foster parents a chance to go out and have fun with the kids. I was able to do that for five or six years.”
In 2001, Don won the Manatee Council for Children Advocate Award. Especially during this time, he was involved with kid-related activities. He was involved with Little League, the foster kid picnics, and the Boys Club. He was on the board of directors for Parenting Matters and even served as the president at one point.
“I learned early that I could make a difference with what I do here at my business. I always try to help in some way or another, whether it’s an in-kind donation, discounts, or flat-out cash donation.”
At The Trophy Case, Don and his employees make everything from plaques, acrylics, ceramic tiles, medals, ribbons, pen sets, clocks, crystal, and engraved cups. It’s rarely the same type of award that comes through the door. It could be a Little League trophy, a retirement or congratulations award, or even a memorial piece.
“What I’ve realized after all these years is how special our community is. Just the amount of charities and churches I deal with. There are still awesome people. What I appreciate the most is really whom I deal with. I always try to do my best to make sure it’s right.”
Manatee High School recognized his innumerable service efforts when he was honored as the 2022 Outstanding Alumni in the Service and Support to Manatee High School Achievement category.
Don says he couldn’t have done it all over the years without the people working with him and for him. They are like a family who goes above and beyond for each other.
