SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

<I>SBF</i> names Riley Williams Contractor of the Year

The veteran school bus operator demonstrated a passion for safely transporting students and for giving back to the community. The award was given posthumously.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
July 22, 2015
<I>SBF</i> names Riley Williams Contractor of the Year

Riley Williams was honored posthumously as SBF’s 2015 Contractor of the Year. Carol Williams (middle left), Riley's wife, and Chloe Williams, their daughter, accepted the award on his behalf. At left is outgoing NSTA President Tim Flood. At right is SBF General Manager James Blue.

unknown node
2 min to read


MINNEAPOLIS — Veteran school bus operator Riley Williams has been honored posthumously as School Bus Fleet’s 2015 Contractor of the Year.

Williams, who was the president and owner of Woodstown, New Jersey-based school bus contracting company B.R. Williams Inc., died in June.

Ad Loading...

Carol Williams, Riley’s wife, and Chloe Williams, their daughter, accepted the award on his behalf at the National School Transportation Association (NSTA)’s awards ceremony in Minneapolis on Tuesday night.

In presenting the award, SBF General Manager James Blue pointed to Williams’ “passion for transporting students and for giving back to the community. He started in the business in 1975 with little knowledge about school buses, but he quickly learned the ropes and showed that he was dedicated to the safety of the students. He worked hard to build strong relationships with schools and to earn the trust of the community.”

Williams, who died in June, demonstrated a passion for safely transporting students and for giving back to the community.

Williams also quickly began growing the eight-bus company, which he and Carol had acquired from his parents, by gaining new contracts with neighboring school districts. The company now operates about 180 buses and serves more than a dozen districts in New Jersey.

For several decades, Williams shared his insights with colleagues in industry associations. He got involved with NSTA early in his career, and he served two terms as president of the New Jersey School Bus Owners Association. After that state association split into two groups, he was instrumental in reuniting them years later.

Williams was also recognized for his philanthropic efforts. For example, his company organized a Stuff the Bus campaign and collected 17 busloads of food and supplies for Hurricane Sandy victims in 2012. Williams himself drove one of the buses to deliver the aid to North Jersey.

Ad Loading...

After he turned over the reins of the company to his daughter Chloe in the late ’90s, Williams continued to stay involved by driving school buses part time. He said that this ground-level contact with the company’s drivers was important because it helped them feel comfortable with him.

An in-depth profile of Riley Williams and B.R. Williams Inc. will appear in the September issue of SBF.

More Management

An orange and white graphic with HopSkipDrive's logo and text reading "Districts Adjusts to Persistent Driver Shortages."
Managementby Elora HaynesAugust 12, 2026

Have School Districts Adapted to Bus Driver Shortages or Simply Accepted Less Service?

According to a recent report from HopSkipDrive, many districts appear to have recalibrated what "normal" transportation service looks like.

Read More →
A blue and white graphic with text reading "The Ripple Effect of a Reliable Ride."
Managementby Elora HaynesAugust 12, 2026

Reliable Transportation Linked to Better Student Outcomes, New EverDriven Study Finds

See why new research suggests transportation consistency improves student outcomes while influencing attendance, funding, IEP compliance, and family trust.

Read More →
A close-up side view of a yellow Switzer-CARTY school bus parked in a bus yard, with the contractor's name displayed on the side panel and additional school buses visible in the background.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 7, 2026

Switzer-CARTY Enters the U.S. with New Acquisition

The Canadian contractor’s acquisition of Minnesota-based Agnes Corporation marks its first cross-border expansion into the United States and adds 350 vehicles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Students wearing backpacks line up to board a yellow school bus, each holding an NFC-enabled student ID card to scan as they enter. The image illustrates student ridership tracking technology that records boarding activity in real time.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 6, 2026

BusRight Adds New Rider Tracking Technology

Safety Pass is an NFC-based student ridership tracking solution that provides real-time boarding and drop-off data to improve school bus safety and family communication.

Read More →
A red and white image of someone holding a cell phone with text reading "EverDriven Launches RideAware App With Student Ride Visibility."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsAugust 5, 2026

EverDriven Launches RideAware App With Real-Time Student Ride Visibility

The updated platform’s new features improve communication among caregivers, districts, and drivers while streamlining trip updates.

Read More →
Students boarding a school bus with text reading "New Riders, Strong Starts. Help every student feel confident on day one."
Managementby Elora HaynesAugust 5, 2026

How School Transportation Departments Can Help Acclimate New Riders to the Bus

Here's how transportation departments can turn first-day jitters into confidence for students and parents alike.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Multiple generations of the Kobussen family posing in front of a school bus.
ManagementAugust 3, 2026

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Nearly 90 Years of Safely Transporting Wisconsin Students

From one farmer's act of service to a fourth-generation family business, Kobussen Buses reflects on nearly 90 years of earning the trust of Wisconsin families.

Read More →
Graphic for School Bus Fleet's "Changing Lanes" July 2026 personnel roundup featuring headshots of six industry professionals: Jamie Smith (AMF Buns), Dan Strock (Pro-Vision), Kyndra Webb (HopSkipDrive Council), Jared Schnader (CALSTART), Alycia Gilde (CALSTART), and Micah Enterz (Kooner Fleet Management Solutions), displayed on an orange geometric background.
Managementby StaffJuly 31, 2026

Changing Lanes: AMF Bruns, Pro-Vision, CALSTART, HopSkipDrive, & Kooner

Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation industry suppliers and nonprofits.

Read More →
Promo graphic for the 18th National Congress on School Transportation, featuring a conference audience background and text reading “May 4–6, 2029, St. Louis, Missouri,” alongside the NCST logo.
Managementby Staff and News ReportsJuly 29, 2026

NCST Announces 18th Congress Event Dates, New Committees

The National Congress on School Transportation moves to St. Louis in May 2029, convening delegates and industry representatives to discuss new best practice recommendations. Now, the new committee chairs have been named.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two school buses parked in front of the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver.
Managementby Amanda HuggettJuly 28, 2026

Key Moments from the 2026 NSTA Annual Meeting in the Mile High City

From federal policy updates and OEM presentations to speed networking and industry awards, see photos and highlights from the contractor association’s summer conference in Denver.

Read More →