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Times Advocate, 1996-11-06, Page 9'. ,.W• U]\JITY Times -Advocate, November 6,1996 Murphy Bus Lines celebrating 50 years Rob Murphy and his grandmother Lenore pose for a photo at the Murphy Bus Lines head office In Arva. By Pat Payton of the St. Marys Journal Argus From one bus and one school — to 270 vehicles, 300 employees and six school boards. Murphy Bus Lines has come a long way in the last five decades. The southwestern Ontario -based bus company is celebrat- ing its 50th attpiversary this year. Brothers Joe'dnd Tom Murphy—fresh out of the RCAF following the Second World War—started the company in Clinton on Sept. 1, 1946. With Just one bus, they, worked for the Clinton District High School Board. With the provincial government at the tithe determined to broaden educational opportunities for rural youngsters, small, bus firms were needed. • Mike Murphy, the company's secretary -treasurer slid son of the late Tom Murphy, said most bus companies saw a period of growth in the 1960s when the little rural schools were replaced by more centrally - located schools, "With central schools came the requirements for school busing, so obviously, buts companies grew because there wawa demand," he ex- plained. "That was the reason for some of the growth in the '60e. We were successful in tendering or bidding or quoting Several of the township school areas of the day. We war icaIso aggressive in acquiring smaller bus companies as time �t9 ttittt "The other reason is, theme oft• Marketing that we did4spd some of the charterbusines8 that we've dev hoped and grown with over the years." • Murphy Bus Lines moved its head office to Arva In 1978. Today, in- cluding Arva and -Clinton Murphy Bus Lines has depots in St. Marys, Seger* Lucan and Hyde park..- Murphy employs about 2504llvers for ite bate ---the majority • being school buses—and about 35 other maintenance and administrative staff. Mike Murphy says he likes V. -ideal with his employees as individuals. He says he hates being treated like a number, and doesn't want to treat his employees in a similar manner. "You gain theirsespect and they; if1 tint, expect their job more," he r, ,;, 4 $ The bus line works for the following School boards: Beard of Educa- tion for City of London, Huron Bd., Huron -Perth RCSSB, London -Mid- dlesex RCSSB, Middlesex Bd., and Perth Bd. Cooperation with boards "The good relationship with the school boards really helps, because we work with them. That's a key," says Rob Murphy, son of Mike Murphy. With all the cutbacks to school boards these days, the two men point out that it's a difficult task to provide safety with less money. "We're walking that line right now," says Mike Murphy, whose brother Pat is the company's president. . • "We're working on 1990 or '91 rates, but the pressures of '96 ex- penses are on the other side of the ledger. We're having to deal with economizing where we can, and still putting a safe product and de- pendable driver on the road." Co-owner Pat Murphy oversees the maintenance of the buildings and buses In the busy operation. "Pat makes it happen," Mike Murphy says. "If something has to be done, there's no punching a time clock, and it has to happen." Pat, who enrolled in a mechanics apprentice program in 1967 fol- lowing high school, works with the mechanics at each shop. "It can be a lot of work," he says. "When the weatherman turns on the snow and cold, it can be Interesting." The maintenance and clean-up crews work every night Until mid- night. The first crew 111,14.06 a.m., when Pat arrives. "Cleanliness and preventative mainteit'shceAre an important thing," Pat Murphy says. Safety Is very important, Rob. Murphy stresses, when thousands of students are being bused every school day. Drivers are also screened careflllly, and full training is provided for and by Murphy Bus Line employeea.' In Lucan, where the shop fpefed 1*' 1964, manager Lloyd Annett wears two hats, so to speak. Annett has managed the depot for the past 10 years, and he's also one of the 34 drivers that works out of the Lucan shop. "I drive a school bus everyday and you have to be on the ball," the 11 � h Ureb �r�niver�� GRAND BEND - Grand Bend United Church was packed Sunday morning October 27, for the 124 anniversary service. Guest speaker was Jay Campbell, CFPL-TV weatherman on the theme "The En- vironment from a Christian Per- spective". The children's story was given by Deb Gill, with drawings depicting the progress of time sit* 1872. Scriptures were tread by Fred Da. S al thIllit at this service was by the Sylvan Handbell Choir of 'Medford, as they" played several numbers with vocals by Marcia Walker and Lynn Douglas. There were no services at (reett- way United so parishioners could attend the ()rend Bend service. The UCW women served lunch in the basement following the ser- vice. It was All Saints Sunday at Grand fled United Chetah en Ne- at service vember 3. Rev. R. Putman's ser- mon topic was "Religion or chris- tianity?" Scriptures were read by Lynn Tremain. Rev. Putman's spoke to the chil- dren about how people sometimes say one thing and do another. The musical presentation by the choir was "Ye Servants of God." The United Church Women served their annual hot turkey sup- per to about 500 people on October 30. Grand Bend Golden Agers held their euchre party October 23 at the Legion Hall with nine tables in play. Winners were: Ladies high score - Aileen Ravelle; ladies low score - Leona Coulter; Ladies most lone hands - Evelyn Johnson; Mens high score - Mel Norton; Mens low score - Jan Van De Vooren; Mens most lone hands - Jerry Vanleeu- wen. The next euchre gimes will be held November 1 i, Wellburn area resident says. What makes a good driver, Annett was asked. "Somebody who's steady and always watching," he replied. "Youhave to be alert. "I drive on No. 4 highway to London everyday, and I'll tell you, you have to be on the ball because there's so much traffic. After you pull off, sometimes you can have about 12 cars behind you at the next stop." The Lucan shop buses students for the Middlesex school board and the London Middlesex separate board. They bus students to places such as Arva, London and Parkhill. Annett says a key job for him in the winter months Is making sure all the buses are,running properly in the frigid temperatures. "It's making sure everything runs all right in the cold weather," he says. A lot of times, I'm here at 5 or 5:30 in the morning and making sure the buses are running. And making sure they're all plugged in. "If somebody calls in sick, I have to make sure we have a (replace- ment) driver." Video cameras Murphy buses also have video cameras if they're required. "We were and are leaders in that innovation," Mike Murphy says. "We introduced cameras before some of the boards even wanted to recognize the need. "We view it as another tool that we use to provide safe transporta- tion. If there's someone harassing your child, or if someone's saying the driver isn't operating the bus properly, that camera will show the parent the time that their child got on the bus and the time their child got -off the bus, as well as everyone's actions for the entire trip. Murphy Bus Lines subscribes to an Atlanta-based weather forecaster as well, and all bus operators are supersensitive to what forecasters predict from moment to moment. Weather and road conditions are monitored and the information is shared amongst operators and school board officials. Murphy Bus Lines also offers highway coaches. "We do charter trips, which go all over, including to the United States," Rob Murphy says. "We also do a lot of charter work with community groups. For example, we take the Western football team and the West- ern hockey team to all their (away) games with the highway coach. "We just provide the transportation. We're not a tour company, but a. lot of people think that." Special celebration For the 50th anniversary of Murphy Bus Lines, the company is hold- ing a special Christmas party on Dec. 14 in Lucan—with all the fixings. "Every year, we have a Christmas dinner and a dance and we present long-time employees with pins. This year, we're expanding both the - guest list and the program," says Mike Murphy. Several retired drivers and long-time drivers will be honoured that evening. "We want to honour them, that's our main focus of the whole thing," says Rob Murphy. "We want to thank the employees for their great contribution. That's what's made us what we are." Also invited will be school board officials, local MPPs and company suppliers. Are your investments sleeping?? Get your money working 24 hours a day. For more information contact an investment. professional Y.I.S. Ratncial Inc. YOUR INVESTMENT SHOPPERS 282 Men Street S. , Dual horn aflit� D -Zs Exeter, Ontario • G.LC. 4.3144 NOM 137 • 14sAm Mrd t Ta• Cormyrtm l • �-X35- LAVRENCE M. BEANE I DON THOMPSON MANOR CONSULTANTS• -- is x . NOTICE Ort NINO IN THE VILLAIE' OF HENSAL (D 610tiolpedAct,/Es.o.1590, Cheptirlt4 Section ?2s (111) Take notice that Council of the Write of HenseN intends to piss a By-law on Tuesday November 12,1996, to rename the following street Lamm PRO ED NAME a) Mill Street west of MSH Street West b) Queen Street west of - . 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