CALGARY, Alberta — Larry Pierce, president of Pierce Coach Line in Roslyn, N.Y., has been named SCHOOL BUS FLEET’s 2008 Contractor of the Year.

SBF Publisher Frank Di Giacomo presented the award, which recognizes a contractor who has worked at the local, state and national levels for the betterment of pupil transportation, last week at the National School Transportation Association’s (NSTA) convention. Pierce is the 41st recipient of the annual award.

Pierce was handed the reins of Pierce Coach Line by his father in the 1940s, around the end of World War II. In addition to growing the family business, he has held key roles in industry associations and has shared his insight with many colleagues throughout the years.

Pierce is a longtime member of the NSTA and the New York State School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA), and he has served as president of both groups. He was instrumental in launching New York’s first school bus safety competition in 1972.

Today, Pierce Coach Line transports about 1,800 students daily on 175 school buses. Pierce still serves as president. His wife, Fran, works for the company as an administrative assistant, and their son Troy is operations director. An in-depth article on Pierce and his company will appear in the August issue of SBF.

NSTA presented a number of other awards at its convention. Here are the winners:

Golden Merit Award

• Bruce Dischinger, Minnesota Coaches

• Warren Gumbs, Educational Bus Transportation

• Thomas Hyatt, First Student Inc.

• Kevin Kalberer, Huntington Coach

• Chuck Moore, Durham School Services

• Marvin Shipley, First Student Inc.

• Lubke Storry, Stock Transportation Ltd.

• Phil Vallone, Rolling V Bus Corp.

• Patrick Vaughan, Laidlaw Education Services

  Hall of Fame Award

• Charles Peterson, Kottkes’ Bus Service

  Go Yellow, Go Green Award

• George Krapf Jr. & Sons Inc.

  Distinguished Service Award

• Bob Pudlewski, Industry Veteran

  Outstanding Driver Service Award

• Alice Praud, First Student Canada