The book on Vince Lombardi returned to the library, awaited for 51 years

Some of us take longer than others to study the wisdom and specter of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

The Benson Memorial Library in Titusville, Pa., got a surprise this fall when a copy of “Lombardi: Winning is the Only Thing” was returned, more than 51 years after it was first retrieved.

The book features a collection of essays by 23 men who knew Lombardi, including former Packers players Bart Starr, Max McGee, Paul Hornung, Willie Davis and others. The collection is edited by one of Lombardi’s most legendary former players, Jerry Kramer, first published in 1970.

At least, according to the release card that came with the book, it was a fairly popular item at the library before it was last borrowed on July 26, 1973.

The anonymous customer returned the book with a late fee (plus interest) as a donation to the library, even though the library has not charged a late fee since 2021.

“Out of the kindness of his heart, he brought the book back after finding it while looking through some things,” library executive director Jessica Hilburn told the Erie Times-News.

The library does not release the patron’s name or the amount of their donation, to protect their privacy, Hilburn said.

A used version of the book is available relatively cheaply on Amazon, at $5.10.

Lombardi died in September 1970, shortly after the book’s release. Kramer, whose playing career ended after the 1968 season, was the driving force behind a number of books, including “Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer,” “Jerry Kramer’s Farewell to Football” and ” Run to Win: My Life of the Packers from Lombardi to Canton.

The quote in the title is of course reminiscent of a famous quote attributed to Lombardi: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing,” although Lombardi said the meaning of those words is often misinterpreted.