COLUMBIA, S.C. — A beloved bus driver from Richland One has retired after almost 50 years in the district.
Mr. Blease Brown was honored for all his hard work at the Richland One employee recognition banquet.
“I do love my kids and I'd do anything for my kids,” Brown said.
A career that began in 1977, Brown has been driving a bus for the Richland One School District for more than four decades.
"It is hard, but you gotta know that if it's not in your heart, don't come to transportation because you got to be the person that has a heart and is dedicated to this mission, and we are on a mission and that mission is not ending,“ Brown said.
Brown says his love for his job came from his dedication to the students at W.G. Sanders Middle School, Keenan High School and Bradley Elementary School.
“A lot of them will come to me and thank me and I'm like, 'I wasn’t your teacher, I was just your bus driver,' but a lot of people don't realize we’re the first thing they see in the morning other than the parents so we were doing a lot,” Brown said.
After all these years, choosing to retire wasn’t easy.
"I do miss my bus, I really do," Brown said. "I mean, it's hard to get over it but hey, you got to move and make room for the next person and mold and continue to do the job because there's not going to ever be done. You got to keep doing it and keep moving forward.”
Colleagues said there aren’t many people out there like Brown
“He’s always a positive employee," transportation supervisor Latroy Gleaton said. "Every time you see him, he’s automatically going to say something to motivate you and get you into good spirits.”
As he settles into retirement, Brown said he hopes students will remember him and bus 309 forever.
“As a good person, a good bus driver, and maybe they want to be a bus driver so they can do the same thing and motivate somebody else,” Brown said.
Richland One is currently hiring bus drivers. Those interested can fill out the application on their website.