It was in the spring of 1946—seven and a half months after the Allies emerged victorious in World War II—when George Pinks of Geneseo was considering his professional options.
Despite his father’s wishes, George was interested in getting into the transportation business. It was just a matter of whether it would be buses or trucks.
“My grandpa said he didn’t want him to do either,” recalled Beth Carton, George’s daughter. “He was very against it, but told him that if he insisted on one, to buy the buses because kids always have to get to school.”
George did just that, purchasing a pair of buses, founding Pinks’ Bus Service, and opening for business on April 18, 1946. When Pinks’ began transporting local students in 1948, its fleet added 12 more buses.
Eight decades later, Pinks’ is still rolling. Carton now serves as owner and president, and along with her colleagues, Sue Keegan and Nikki Smith, they keep the fleet moving.
For their partnership and ongoing role as the heartbeat of our district's daily journey, Superintendent Dr. Laura Delgado and the Board of Education will recognize Pinks’ and Carton at the board’s May meeting.
“Pinks’ has generated a well-earned legacy of safety and service,” said Dr. Delgado. “Between Beth, Sue, Nikki and all of their drivers, Pinks’ dedication to the safety and well-being of our students is as essential today to our district’s success as ever.”
Dr. Delgado added, “It’s been an extraordinary eight-decade partnership our school district has enjoyed with Pinks’, and we can’t thank their entire team enough for being a cornerstone of our community.”
It’s been quite a ride for Pinks’, which currently runs 29 daily bus routes across the district’s 260 square miles and serves approximately 1,750 eligible student riders.
Throughout a typical school year, Pinks’ buses total approximately 450,000 miles, including rides to athletic and scholastic events.
It all began with George, who according to his daughter was regarded as nice but firm, and tough, but fair when it came to business.
“He was honest, and he really cared about the work,” said Beth. “He learned pretty quickly that as long as he did a good job and operated the right way, Pinks’ would be around.”
When George passed away in 1982, however, the family considered selling the business. Multiple bids were placed to purchase Pinks’, but in the end, Beth knew what she wanted to do.
“I grew up here,” she explained. “I started out painting bus wheels when I was 9 or 10 years old, and the business has always been part of my life. My brothers left the area, but I made the decision to stay.”
Beth took over the business, and when she married Jim Carton in 1988, he got involved too, becoming a driver and leading the company’s safety drills. Jim passed away in early 2020, but the collaborative team of Beth, Sue and Nikki forged ahead, running the day-to-day operations with a clear-cut top priority.
“Everything we do and ask the children to do is for their safety,” Beth stated. “When you’re driving a bus, you’ve got 60 kids behind you. It’s not like you’re in the front of the classroom looking directly at them. Our drivers are tasked with watching the road and traffic, as well as keeping an eye on the children. That’s a lot of responsibility and we take it very seriously.”
From wintertime weather to keeping track of all the young riders, each day comes with its challenges. But time and time again, Pinks’ comes through for the community.
“We try to tell our drivers that they truly are essential,” Beth said. “But they just don’t get enough credit for what they’ve done over the years, especially during the pandemic. It really speaks to their dedication.”
Beth is quick to note that many drivers have been with Pinks’ not just for years, but decades. It speaks not only to George’s vision and the foundation he created, but the ongoing efforts of Beth, Sue, Nikki and the drivers who continue to provide such a vital service.
“We’ve always been fortunate to have a lot of good people driving our buses,” concluded Beth. “We take pride in what we do, and we go with the flow.”
This is an updated version of a story that was originally published in conjunction with Pinks’ Bus Service’s 75th anniversary.
