"A TRIBUTE TO GREYHOUND"

"AMERICA ON WHEELS…A TRIBUTE TO GREYHOUND BUS LINES, INC.

BY ANTHONY CHARLES BLAKE

FORMER GREYHOUND EMPLOYEE AND MOTORCOACH HOBBYIST
It has often been said, Greyhound, the fastest dog on wheels
according to former competitor, Trailways, Inc. now merged into the
Greyhound network. Songs have been written about Greyhound such
as "NOWHERE BOUND WITH GREYHOUND" By country and western singer,
Tommy Hunter. Greyhound Bus Lines has become america's dream to the
open road to any destination I desire and at your service. It could
be long, far and short distance. The fact remains, Greyhound being a
loyal friend to the end and a friendly hand opening the door as the
bus pulls out of the terminal enroute to any destination. What you
do not know, Greyhound bus Lines has a unique history from its
humble beginnings, a bus company you heard of, but really didn't
know much about. It was 1914 in Hibbing, Minnesota, the giant empire
of greyhound was formed and took shape. Two gentlemen Eric Wickman,
a Swedish immigrant and Carl Anderson, an Innkeeper. Between the two
of them, the dream became a reality. Wickman and Anderson ran
commuter runs from Alice to Hibbing, transporting miners to work and
back all for 15 cents. The Greyhound company was starting to
formulate a corporation, but the two pioneers were wondering where
do we go from here. Success story in the making, but wasn't
complete. Two bus companies MESABA TRANSPORTATION AND PICKWICK
STAGES along with partnership of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Mind you
now, the Greyhound name was established, but it wasn't until Wickman
and Anderson went to a hupmobile race known today as a soap box
derby that the Greyhound name took shape. One of the hupmobile's was
painted grey and it was fast as a Greyhound dog. Yes my friends you
guessed it, Greyhound was officially named Greyhound and became the
Greyhound Corporation. The thought of a bus company expanding in the
traveling market where railroads had the dominance, but intercity
bus travel began to surface causing the railroads to derail
operations and even the Pennsylvania Railroad let Greyhound go
because the company being stable was a standalone corporation and
pulled its own weight. Superhighways began to be built and the hound
was seen from city to city, downtown to downtown and around and
about.

The company had stocks and bond and was a Fortune 500 Corporation
ready to prove to investors, Greyhound is a wise choice to invest
your money. Greyhound was much more than just a bus company, it was
a conglomerate of industries such as GREYHOUND TEMPORARY SERVICES,
INC., how I worked at Lord & Taylor, Inc. on Fifth Avenue, Computer
Operations Components, Rent-A-Car Agency, Dial, Travel Agency,
Cruise Ship, Two Airlines: World Airways
And Greyhound Air. All this from one company and with one purpose, a
vision of possibilities with risk involved. The Greyhound
Corporation has been simplified from it's beginnings to Greyhound
Lines, Inc., a subsidiary of First Group in Scotland and England.
Greyhound dominance is also shown on CAROLINA TRAILWAYS, VERMONT
TRANSIT, TEXAS, NEW MEXICO AND OKLAHOMA COACHES, GREYHOUND CANADA,
GREYHOUND MEXICO, VALLEY TRANSPORTATION. Greyhound is also
worldwide in AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. Today, Greyhound is 94
years old and shows no signs of retiring anytime soon.

Greyhound Bus Lines also has their own museum called the `GREYHOUND
BUS ORIGIN CENTER in Hibbing, Minnesota and their website is
WWW.BUSMUSEUM.ORG and GREYHOUND.COM. This writer's nameplate is on
the 1947 Greyhound Silversides and I once worked for Greyhound as
their Package Express and Passenger Revenue Sales Executive while
attending College. I met and received encouragement from the top
management which I knew them by name such as the Former
CEO/President and numerous other senior Management officers. My
nickname is Houndman Cometh. There you have it. Greyhound,
America's bus Line to your dream destinations. The slogan, `GO
GREYHOUND…" LEAVE THE DRIVING TO US." Simply put, "Look, Listen,
Learn and take a little time to ride along. One question though,
Greyhound has not caught that rabbit yet, I guess it's too busy
being the fastest dog on wheels.