my job

By Laura French • jobslink@startribune.com

Bill Drigans is on his fourth career — not counting his Marine Corps service during the Korean War. A highlight of his first career, as a project manager for Control Data, was installing two computers in the Presidential Palace in Mexico City. In his second career, Drigans sold children's clothing over a five-state area.

After retiring from sales, he asked himself what he wanted to do next. As a high school athlete, Drigans had spent a lot of time on school buses. "I always talked to the bus driver," he recalled.

He applied to Voigt's in his home town of Fridley and began a third career as a driver.

"I drove the same area for 18 years. The kids grew up with me. I've been to lots of parties. I've received wedding invitations from couples who rode my bus together. The neighbors recognize me," he said.

Drigans' passengers ranged from kindergarten to high school. "You see changes as they grow up. The little ones' attention span is less. You have to settle them down more often," he said. Telling stories that ended with "to be continued" was one technique Drigans used. Kids would take the bus home instead of having their moms pick them up, just so they could hear the ending.

In addition to the school routes, Drigans drove casino runs and over-the-road charters as far away as St. Louis. He also drove "a lot of sports charters." When he drove football and basketball teams, he'd also act as volunteer scorekeeper and statistician, sitting on the bench with the team.

Drigans gave nicknames to his young passengers — Cinderella, Snow White, Lone Ranger. "Once I was driving a substitute route, and three eighth-grade girls said, 'Don't you remember us? We're the Dixie Chicks.' I called them that because they always rode the bus together, and eight years later they were still getting off at the same stop," he said.

At the end of a basketball charter run, a graduating senior had a special request. "I got on the public address system and said, 'OK, horsie. Giddy-up.' She told me that in first grade she was convinced she rode to school inside a big yellow horse."

Six months ago, Drigans embarked on his fourth career, in Customer Service and Recruitment. "I go to job fairs and talk to people about driving for Voigt," he said.

Drigans speaks from experience. "I have a good friend who's a school principal," he said. "He thinks bus driver is the hardest job in the school. But it's very rewarding."

What's the biggest challenge?

Calming the kids down. You do different things. Once I spray painted a half-gallon milk carton gold, and I'd hide it on the route in a different place every day so the kids could look for it. The number one goal is safety.

What's the best thing about the job?

It's a transferrable skill. You can go anywhere and get a job. There's such a demand. It's something to fall back on or jump into when you need it.

What does it take to be good at the job?

When I started to drive, I thought, "I have to respect the kids." When I needed to discipline them, I did it quietly. I'd just call them over as they were getting off the bus. They appreciate that. They show you respect. They'd tell me, "You've been my favorite driver." □