A 71-year-old man named Coy Dumas from Atlanta who never missed work for 50 years has been rewarded for serving his community with dedication.
Coy, an Adamsville native is a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) bus driver who has been working for the company since 1972. . Since then, he has driven a total of over 2 million miles and safely carried 2.8 million passengers according to Blacknews.
“To do what we do, you have to have a special kind of spirit and understand the responsibility. We have people that rely on us to go to the grocery store, to go to the doctor, to go to work, to go to school,” he said.
Coy mentioned that he was just 21 and he was managing a shoe store in downtown Atlanta when his uncle encouraged him to apply to what was then called Atlanta Transit. He said since then he has worked mornings, nights, holidays, and weekends while experiencing the good, the bad, and the unexpected.
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Coy said for the period of 50 years, he has never met an accident, except for one minor accident in the late 1970s. He was not at fault when a truck driver hit the side of his bus and no passengers were injured as well.
“I’ve done everything except deliver a baby and I came close to doing that. Twice,” he said. Coy’s home was covered in plaques and proclamations honoring his service. He was also given a MARTA uniform signed and framed by his coworkers.
The company praised his dedication and service stating that he knew every one of his passengers on a first-name basis, always greeting them with a smile, and became the “mainstay in his community.
Aside from being MARTA’s most veteran bus driver, Coy also served as a leader and a mentor to countless drivers. He has been leading the Mentorship Program out of Perry Bus Facility for several years.
He said he will continue to train new drivers as a consultant after his retirement adding that he will officially start his consultant position. Coy said he will also continue to lead the mentorship program out of the Perry bus facility before his retirement.
The company honored Coy at one of the meetings with the MARTA Board of Directors. He was surprised with a bus featuring his photo and a congratulatory message along with a mini version of the bus as a gift.
They also honored him with digital billboards celebrating his service all around metro Atlanta. Coy celebrated his 50 years in service alongside his family, friends, and colleagues.
“Anyone who’s driven a bus can tell you it is hard work. Mr. Dumas does it with a smile and a sense of pride that makes his customers and all who cross his path feel uplifted and inspired,” MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood said.
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