N.C. Transportation Hall of Fame honors industry veteran
Thomas Built Buses sponsors the Perley A. Thomas Award for Excellence in Pupil Transportation. This year's recipient, Don Byrnes, served the industry for 32 years as a transportation director and past president of the North Carolina Pupil Transportation Association.
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CARY, N.C. — The North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame will hold its sixth annual induction and award ceremonies here on Oct. 4.
This year's recipient of the Perley A. Thomas Award For Excellence in Pupil Transportation will be Don Byrnes, retired transportation director for Cleveland County Schools.
Byrnes started his career in school transportation in 1974 with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. He moved to Cleveland County Schools and served as director of transportation for 13 years before retiring in 2006 with 32 years of service in the pupil transportation industry.
He is a past president of the North Carolina Pupil Transportation Association, and represented school transportation in the North Carolina Association of School Administrators for six years.
"As the sponsor of the award, Thomas Built Buses is proud to recognize Byrnes's achievements and contributions to the industry," the company said in a statement.
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