WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Mark D. Fisher, former owner and president of Richmond-based school bus company Virginia Overland Transportation passed away here on April 30 at the age of 59.

Fisher started the company in conjunction with his parents, Marvin and Ruth, in 1973 as a school bus consulting service. In 1975, it expanded into operating a cooperative school bus system serving five independent schools in the Richmond area, and the following year the service had grown to 13 schools. The company also began to acquire all or controlling portions of a number of other older Virginia public service transportation companies, some dating back to streetcar and interurban operations in the early 20th century.

Virginia Overland contracted commuter transportation, paratransit services, university inter-campus transportation, shuttle bus services, special event operations, and chartered bus services for federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, businesses and companies.

The company’s largest long-term school-related contracts included Petersburg City Public Schools from 1981 to 1989, Hopewell City Public Schools from 1984 to 1996 and Virginia Commonwealth University's campus transit services from 1989 to 2004.

Virginia Overland also operated several bus dealerships that primarily served Virginia and North Carolina, most notably a franchise for Wayne Corp. It sold approximately 3,000 new and used buses between 1976 and 2004.

Virginia Overland Transportation's parent corporation and its Richmond operating subsidiary were dissolved in 2005.

Fisher retired in 2005 and battled numerous health issues. A private funeral service will be held for him.

For more information about Virginia Overland Transportation, click here.