LISLE, Ill. — IC Bus recently announced Longhorn Bus Sales as the company’s North American School Bus 2015 Dealer of the Year.

The award focuses on excellence in dealership performance, as well as industry and community leadership, according to the school bus manufacturer.

“We are proud of Longhorn Bus Sales for earning our top award as the 2015 IC Bus Dealer of the Year,” said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager of IC Bus. “The Dealer of the Year award recognizes the effort and dedication of all the dealership’s employees, the commitment to growing their business, and the recognition by customers as the dealership of choice in their market.”

Longhorn Bus Sales was founded in 1974 and became an IC Bus dealer in 2000, and since then has delivered thousands of buses to customers throughout Texas, according to IC Bus. The manufacturer recently recognized the dealership with its “Pursuit of Excellence” award, acknowledging Longhorn Bus Sales for outstanding growth and exceptional customer service. In addition, Longhorn Bus Sales earned the Diamond Premier Dealer recognition for 2015.

Longhorn Bus Sales is owned and operated by the Kyrish family with sales, parts, and service throughout Texas. The Kyrish family also owns and operates International truck dealerships in Texas, which are part of Kyrish Truck Centers.

“I have been a part of the International family since 1950, and today, 66 years later, it is a special milestone for me, my family and our employees at Longhorn Bus Sales to be recognized as the IC Bus 2015 Dealer of the Year,” said Ed Kyrish, owner of Longhorn Bus Sales. “All of our employees, starting with the leadership of Jack Connell, general manager, and Robert Lofgren, sales manager, are the finest in the industry and I know they are the reason we are receiving this award for always ensuring that our customers feel valued.”

“Longhorn’s success is predicated on the quality of the IC product and our high level of service support after the sale, and we also have the largest professional bus sales staff in the state of Texas,” Connell said. “Our sales staff average 400 sales calls and travel over 11,000 miles each month and collectively represent over 100 years combined sales experience; if you include the experience of the Kyrish family, that number swells to beyond 200 years.”