Central Ohio man being inducted into White Castle’s Cravers Hall of Fame
A Columbus-area man is being immortalized by his go-to burger spot.
Marysville resident and military veteran Jeff Lyerla will officially be inducted into the Cravers Hall of Fame (CHF) this weekend.
Lyerla will join 13 others into the CHF, which serves as White Castle’s space to recognize fans of the brand who boast unique or inspiring stories.
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It all started, Lyerla said, when he was recounting an old story with a friend.
“He told me I had to submit it [to the Cravers Hall of Fame], and I did. And then one day I got a call, text and email saying that I had made it,” he said. “I didn’t expect it, really. I’m just another guy.”
Lyerla submission is from his time in the National Guard.
He would join longtime friend Erwin Gray—who served with him in the National Guard— to regular White Castle trips when the two were home Iraq, and this gave Lyerla an idea for a good-natured prank while on leave.
“While I was on leave I took my sons and my nephew to White Castle, and we devoured a Crave Case in record time I think. I told them, ‘Don’t smash up your boxes, we’re going to put them back in the Crave Case,’” Lyerla said. “And then I mailed the empty Crave Case to [Gray] while he was in Iraq.”
Lyerla said his friend was immediately excited, and then, naturally, disappointed to learn that it was a prank, but some good did come from it, after all.
“He did say, however, even though it was empty, he kept it in the shared building we lived in for three days because it still smelled so good,” Lyerla said with a laugh.
Lyerla will be inducted into the Cravers Hall of Fame on My 15, at the White Castle headquarters in Columbus. He’ll be fitted for a CHF blazer and will take part in a short ceremony. He said Gray has been invited to join, although he’s unsure if he’ll be able to make it.
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