Hoffman named 'Bus Driver of the Year'

School bus driver Oscar Hoffman is heading towards a second retirement in a life that includes time as a medical salesman and service with two military branches.

Hoffman received the ultimate compliment for his driving skills Friday when he was selected as the Gaffney School Bus Driver of the Year by the district's transportation office. He will finish his fourth year as a county school bus driver before retiring again.

He became a school bus driver after his retirement from a medical salesman position. He has gone back to school on a couple of occasions, sandwiched around four years with the Marine Corps and a stint as a lieutenant lab officer in the U.S. Navy.

School bus drivers are required to maintain a commercial driver's license and receive 10 hours of staff development training every school year. Their pay scale in Cherokee County ranges from $8 to $15 per hour, depending on experience.

Hoffman decided to drive a school bus part-time so he could fill some of his leisure time following retirement.

"It's an exciting job. I enjoy being around the children, even if they do get on my nerves from time to time," he said.

Hoffman was presented with the award Friday by district transportation director Jackie Queen. The award was based on an evaluation of his job performance, ranging from attendance to driving safety record.

"I was pleasantly surprised," Hoffman said. "There are a lot of other bus drivers who are just as deserving of this award as I am. In my opinion, their names should be on the plaque with mine."

Tommy Wilson was selected the Blacksburg School Bus Driver of the Year on April 12 as the district held school bus driver appreciation week.

Wilson has missed only five days of work in his five years as a bus driver. He has worked as a chocolate maker in a chocolate shop at Prime Outlets Gaffney mall and helped run the Texaco gas station on Highway 5 for a number of years.

"He is a dedicated bus driver who can always be counted on," said Blacksburg school bus driver supervisor Libby Carroll. "Sometimes he will make chocolates and bring some in for us."

From chocolate making to medical sales, the district's school bus drivers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Bus drivers provide transportation so more than half of the district's 9,000 students can make it to school on time each morning.

School buses are by far the safest form of transportation nationally. National statistics show school buses are seventy

times safer than a private car and eight times safer than trains and planes.