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Rockie Todd Helton buys Columbine Ford in Rifle

Mike McKibbin
Citizen Telegram Editor
Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO

RIFLE, Colorado – Motorists can now buy a new or used vehicle from Columbine Ford and know Todd Helton was one of the dealership owners.

The popular Colorado Rockies first baseman along with Front Range auto dealer Mike Peebles have purchased Columbine Ford in Rifle for an undisclosed amount, according to Peebles. The sale closed on Monday.

Sam Levine and his son, Rick Levine, started Columbine Ford in Rifle more than 20 years ago, and Peebles said the name will remain the same. The Denver Post erroneously reported Tuesday that the name of the dealership would be changed to Todd Helton Ford.



“I got to know Todd when he was a rookie,” Peebles said Tuesday. “He started doing TV commercials for us about 10 years ago, and we had talked about his someday getting into the business. So when this became available in an outdoors area like Rifle, I asked him and he said he’d be all over that.”

Helton is an avid hunter and outdoorsman.



Helton, 39, has one year, worth $5 million, left on his contract with the Rockies. He said he plans to come back in 2013, after a right-hip injury sidelined him this season.

Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce Director Frank Ladd was pleased to hear of the purchase by a high-profile athlete.

“Any time you can get a big name into a small market, like Rifle, it’s a plus,” he said. “I think it also says a lot about the community and that he thought enough of it to invest his money in a local business.”

Read more about this story in Thursday’s Citizen Telegram.


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