News - Local News

POSTED: Monday, Jun. 15, 2009

WTA driver wraps up safe, costumed career

About 20 friends, relatives, co-workers and transit riders greeted Ron Hentz as he pulled his decorated bus into Whatcom Transportation Authority's downtown terminal shortly before 3 p.m. Friday, June 12, and ended his nearly 30-year career behind the wheel.

Hentz came to work Friday morning to find his campus-route bus adorned inside and outside with crepe paper, flowers, balloons, banners and messages.

"Honk! It's my last day!" read a large sign affixed to the rear of the bus.

There's a handful of drivers with more years of WTA service, but Hentz is likely second to none as an all-around, bus-driving guy.

His knack for driving was apparent at WTA's bus rodeos, annual contests of bus-driving skills. He won the local contest five times, and once placed third statewide.

Now 65, Hentz is stout and balding. His face crinkles when he smiles, so it seems fitting that he often wore a Santa Claus outfit for work during the holidays, and volunteered to deliver gifts to needy local kids for Operation Santa Claus.

Many WTA drivers wear costumes on Halloween, and Hentz was a regular. His outfits included Bart Simpson, Superman, and a witch, complete with a cauldron bubbling with dry ice.

Paul Schramer, director of operations for WTA, recalled one Halloween when Hentz, in his Superman garb, saw a car on the road with a woman's purse on top.

"He got to play Superman for real, running out of the bus and giving the purse to the woman," Schramer said.

Hentz logged an estimated 750,000 bus miles during his career, with only two small accidents along the way.

"Very minor when you consider how long he's been on the road," Schramer said.

After graduating from Bellingham High School, Hentz worked for his folks driving a freight truck between Bellingham and Point Roberts. That experience proved handy in 1979 when he was hired by Bellingham's Transit Department. The city agency later became part of WTA.

In the early days, patrons waited for buses outside of Pay'n Save Drugs, where the downtown Rite Aid is now located. Without a downtown terminal - that came in 1980 - drivers used a shoe repair shop or the Penney's auto center for restroom breaks, and stored their lunches at the shoe shop.

Hentz has seen other changes through the years. Riders used tokens instead of electronic passes.

Drivers scrolled signs to show destinations; today, digital signs and PA systems keep riders informed. Early buses lacked power steering, wheelchair lifts, bicycle racks, and good heaters.

"You had to have a piece of cardboard by your leg to keep warm," Hentz said.

And drivers changed their routes less often.

"You got to know the people more," Hentz said, "and the people got to know you."

With his free time, Hentz plans to be Mr. Fix-it at his daughter Heather's and son Jason's houses. He'll have more time to search for coins with his metal detector, and to be with Cecil, his three-legged dog.

He'll also have more time for his garden. That's where he grew the roses that he wore to work.