Bill Broce retires after 37 years years ago
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Tomorrow will be Bill Broce's last day as a regular bus driver for Centre Unified School District #397.
Broce became a bus driver in 1966, the same year he began teaching science and math at Centre High School.
He retired from teaching in 1998 but kept his bus driving job until now. He will retire after 37 years on the job.
His fellow bus drivers threw a farewell party for him Thursday at the transportation building. They gave him a card created especially for him and also a bus watch.
"I've been lucky to work with a bunch of nice people," he said.
Broce said during his first few years he sometimes tried to negotiate mud roads. After getting stuck and having to be pulled out a few times, he decided that was not a good risk.
He drove the east-of-Lincolnville route which took him into the western edge of the Flint Hills. He has a pretty good driving record considering the many miles he accumulated behind the wheel.
"I ran over a coyote, a deer, two dogs, and a mailbox, and kissed a bridge," he said.
The latter incident occurred just two weeks ago, one morning when the concrete was slick. "You're going out with a bang!" one of the student riders exclaimed.
Broce owns a small farm, has a small herd of beef cows, and runs a custom haying operation, so he has plenty to keep him busy in retirement.
He and his wife, Dorothy, have two married children, Michelle and Mike, who live in the Topeka area. The couple has one grandchild and two on the way and are looking forward to having more time to spend with their family.
