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Hermes always liked driving buses [UPDATED]
Published 10:08am Tuesday, April 3, 2012 Updated 12:11pm Tuesday, April 3, 2012Current Ashby area resident and retiree Pete Hermes recalls the days in the early 1960s when he first began driving school buses. Back then he was a teacher and assistant coach at Murdock, northwest of Willmar.
“In those days, assistant coaches also were expected to drive the team bus to away games,” said Hermes. “I found out that I really enjoyed driving bus, and did this off and on over the years, in addition to teaching and coaching.”
The Wahpeton native later taught in Elbow Lake and after that as part of West Central Area (WCA) Public Schools. He was a math and science teacher for 34 year in the Elbow Lake-Barrett area.
Today’s he’s a substitute bus driver, and was doing just that on Thursday, March 29. He and his wife, Dorothy, reside at Pelican Lake, south of Ashby.
His biggest joy as a bus driver was driving athletic teams while the Hermes’ children were members of those squads. They have two sons, Paul and Tony, and two daughters, Janet and Teri. They have seven grandchildren.
“I still really enjoy driving school buses, even after 40-plus years,” said Hermes. “Being with the kids is very rewarding, and doing this keeps me connected with the schools.”
His assistant coaching duties over the years included service to football teams and other athletic squads. In the classroom, as a science teacher, he taught chemistry and physics.
Hermes started as a substitute bus driver for Ashby Public Schools in the late 1990s.
“I said to myself, ‘Why not continue driving bus?’ We’re retired at Pelican Lake, I have the extra time, and being with the kids is something I really enjoy.”
In return, the kids enjoy having Hermes as a bus driver. That was evident as the Ashby students boarded buses following classes this past Thursday.
