Bus driver spends 40 years behind wheel

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
Dayton McAfee will celebrate 40 years of hauling students to school come May.
He began driving the school bus for Franklin County Schools in 1970 then transferred after three years to drive for Russellville, where he is still picking up and dropping off kids.
McAfee’s routine begins at 6 a.m. every morning. Before cranking up his yellow “cheese” wagon, McAfee is required to do a bus check every morning before heading out on his route. McAfee is out on his route by 6:30 a.m. and gets the children to school by 7:15 a.m. day in and day out.
After that, McAfee heads home to do odd jobs here and there.
McAfee heads back to the Russellville “Bus Barn” around 2 p.m., makes his bus checks, then heads back out on the road to pick students up from school and delivers them to their homes. McAfee gets back to the “barn” around 4:15 p.m. then heads back home.
The 65-year old McAfee has driven six different buses and two different routes during his tenure. He said it’s just a job he enjoys doing.
McAfee said he has no plans as of yet on retiring and believes the job of bus driver is important to the community.