Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Rick Kerlin, of Kerlin Motors in Silver Lake, was one of only eight Ford dealers globally to be inducted into the Salute To Dealers circle of honorees this week in Las Vegas.
This is a major international distinction as he was selected from 127 nominees worldwide. The honor recognizes dealer principals who treat community service as a core part of their business model, according to information provided from Ford.
Specifically, Rick was honored for the Kerlin family’s personal donation of more than 3.5 acres of land to support a new community center in Silver Lake, along with the dealership’s ongoing support for local health and wellness initiatives.
Beyond the donation, Kerlin is committed to longstanding community initiatives.
Since 1999, he has led an annual coat drive that’s collected more than 25,000 coats and raised $250,000 for local charities. His commitment to the region also includes supporting food security through the Boomerang Backpacks program, which provides weekend meals for students, and health initiatives like Racquets for Riley, which supports children’s hospital research.
See the full story online at https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2026/rick-kerlin-2026-ford-salute-to-dealers.
