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Marion Local bus driver, Jerry Everman, 83, will retire this month after 60 years of driving for the district. Everman's last day is May 21.
MARIA STEIN - After more than 60 years behind the wheel, Jerry Everman will make his final stop this month as a bus driver for Marion Local Schools.
Now 83, the Marion Local graduate has transported around three generations of Flyers for school, field trips and sporting events since he was 23. He's retiring with the end of school this year.
"I just like to help people out. I already had a milk route, and I had a chicken farm - a bunch of chickens - and I said, look, I could probably drive unless they found somebody (else) to take my route in the mornings. And, (they) said, 'Hey, I think you would be a good bus driver.' One day (they) said, 'Just call down at Celina, we will get you to drive a school bus.'"
After getting his license, Everman's first day on the job was April 15, 1966.
"The very first day I drove the bus, I was driving from the elementary (school) to Chickasaw because we had to go to some other schools - small schools - to drop kids off there," he said. "I was going there with a bus load to take some kids there and somebody must have thrown something out of the window. The bus driver behind me stopped quick right behind me and came on my bus and told the kids they weren't allowed to throw stuff out the window and chewed them out a little bit. … It was (an interesting first day). I was wondering if I could keep doing it, but I did."
Everman's first day on the job was April 15, 1966. Above is a picture captured for the Marion Local yearbook during his early years.
In all this time, Everman said, pretty much everything has changed, except for the kids.
"Back in the '60s, we used to have a gear shift on the floor, hand brakes, and buses only held 72 passengers," he said. "But the kids are all about the same to me. I never had any trouble (with) my kids. We got good parents. We're in a good community."
During his tenure, Everman has had the rare opportunity of watching generations of families pass through the district.
"I know everybody by name and stuff like that. A lot of times I'll (see) people on the street and they'll say, 'I remember you (gave us all a) candy bar for Christmas every year,' and they enjoyed that," he added.
Mike Pohlman - who was once a student riding Everman's bus and is now the school superintendent - praised the bus driver as a key part of the district's culture.
"On behalf of the Marion Local School District, I want to thank Jerry as he wraps up an incredible 60-year career as a bus driver. Jerry was once my bus driver when I was a student at Marion Local, and now I've had the privilege of working alongside him as superintendent, which makes this moment especially meaningful," he told The Daily Standard. "Generations of students have been greeted by him each morning and afternoon. His dedication and reliability for students have made a lasting impact in our community. Jerry's legacy will be felt for years to come, and it is hard to imagine our roads without him."
Everman says everything has changed since he started driving except the kids, who never give him any trouble.
Currently, Everman has around 30 stops with about 80 kids every morning and afternoon. He also helps out with transportation for field trips and sporting events.
There was no rhyme or reason to the exact timing of his pending retirement, though he said he's looking forward to "enjoying life."
"I enjoy the kids. In fact, the guy taking care of the maintenance retired, and another guy took over and it was right after he took over - I had my 30th (year on the job)," he said. "I told him then for the heck of it, 'I think I'll drive for another 30 years.' And he just laughed at me. And, here we are, 60 years (total). I always enjoyed getting off my feet. Sitting on the bus for an hour and bringing the kids home just made me feel better."
Everman's last day is May 21.
